Match Report: Oliver Spark

Callum Bone’s late penalty was enough to seal a three-two win against Durham United in the Durham Challenge Cup. 

Gateshead lined up with six first team players in the starting eleven to start their Durham Challenge Cup campaign, with the remaining being academy players looking to show what they can do under the lights at the GIS.  

The game’s first shot fell to the returning Ethan Fitzhugh, who fired narrowly over the bar in the seventh minute. Gateshead retained the early pressure, and an effort from Callum Bone was blocked moments later.  

In the tenth minute, a long ball outran Lucas Lowery as he was through one on one with the keeper, which rounded off a promising first ten minutes for the Heed’s attack.  

Durham grew into the game, their most promising attack of the match coming on the 15th minute when Durham’s Kay and Boothroyd combined and a cross was whipped into the box that Gateshead’s Preston Leech needed to be alert to.  

At the other end, Lowery saw his low, hard shot on target stopped with safe hands from the Durham keeper as the game opened out.  

Tidy defending from Gateshead saw Durham’s cross in the 20th minute dealt with, and a chance to look lively on the counterattack.  

Great build-up play saw the ball come to Callum Bone on the edge of the six-yard box and squared to James Blakey for a tap-in, but this was ruled offside. Moments later, Fitzhugh teed another effort up from outside the box, which was beaten away by the Durham keeper.  

Durham saw their own effort smash the post at the other end from a well-executed corner that found one of many lofty players in their eleven.  

On the 31st minute, Gateshead got the breakthrough after a scrap in the 6-yard box eventually saw the goal bundle over the line.  

Efforts from Thompson and Bone kept the excitement going as the match ticked to half-time, with Lowery constantly looking alive to balls over the top.  

A huge stop by Leech kept Durham out on the 42nd minute, then Durham’s keeper was called into keep Gateshead out as both teams looked to go into half-time level.  

The first chance of the half was from a familiar name, Callum Bone, keeping the Durham keeper busy from the off. Max Sheaf set about texting and beating the Durham defence to get a shot away in the area that was again saved by Dixon in the away goal.  

Fitzhugh started the second half as he did the first, looking lively in the attack. His first effort of the half fizzed narrowly past the near post. Moments later, he helped the ball into the box after great wing play.  

Durham managed to steal the ball back in the box just as Gateshead looked to clear after an attack. Their striker then lobbed Leech, and the ball dropped into the home goal for a leveller. 

The match was steady as we passed the 70th-minute mark, with both teams creating half-chances.  

Callum Bone again looked to get on the scoresheet, a long-range effort narrowly missing the far post as Gateshead looked to make their own luck.  

Fitzhugh was caught outside the area. And it was Max Sheaf who lined up the shot, which had to be tipped over the bar for a Gateshead corner, which was dealt with by Durham.  

Sheaf was involved as Gateshead retook the lead in the 80th minute. showcasing his skill and working his way forward into a crossing position, he squared to Jake Lish, who slotted away to make it two-one.  

Durham levelled again in the 88th minute, when a slack back pass allowed Boothroyd through on goal and he slotted the ball past Leech to make it two-two

Then, on the 90th minute, Callum Bone won a penalty, drawing a foul just inside the area. Bone then stepped up to dispatch it unbelievably with a dink down the middle.  

Gateshead came away victorious to advance to the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup after a good showing at the GIS. 

Gateshead: Leech, Reade, Blakey, Melbourne (Price, 30′), Gettins, Doyle (Leach, 46′), Sheaf, Fitzhugh (Hewitson, 70′), Thompson (Coulthard, 61′), Bone, Lowery (Lish, 46′).

Goals: Own goal (31′), Lish (81′), Bone (90′, pen)

Durham United: Dixon, Williams, Challinor, Clarke, Wild, Bell, Dixon, Bramwell, Kay, Boothroyd, Selvadoray 

Substitutes: Cooke, Hopkins, Stewart, Evans, Silman  

Goals: Boothroyd (60′, 88′) 

Attendance: 188