Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead came from behind to defeat Farsley Celtic 8-1 in the first game of their Isuzu FA Trophy defence. 

A fourth minute penalty from Dylan Youmbi capitalised on a slack start from the hosts, who recovered to take a 3-1 lead into half time thanks to goals from Ben Worman, Regan Booty and Tyrelle Newton.

A further five after the interval – including first senior goals for academy players Christian Lynn and Lucas Lowery – sent The Heed through to the fourth round, setting up a home tie with Boston United on January 4.

A youthful Farsley Celtic side made the journey to Gateshead International Stadium for the re-arranged fixture, following the abandonment of the postponed game a week prior after a medical emergency involving visiting captain Lewis Turner.

It was the visitors who struck first to capitalise on a slow start from Gateshead, with Youmbi felled in the box by Robbie Tinkler before stepping up to convert the resultant spot kick and hand his side the lead.

Farsley could have made it two with 12 minutes on the clock but for a double save from Owen Mason, who parried a cross into the six-yard box before tipping the follow-up header onto the roof of his net from point-blank range.

Gateshead began to look more like themselves after drawing level through Ben Worman’s first goal of the season on 24 minutes, with Booty sending a 20-yard right-footer past Kieran Flavell to turn the scoreline in The Heed’s favour.

Newton slotted home three minutes later for his side’s third after Oli Thompson had seemingly been brought down in the box, setting up a second 45 in which Gateshead largely had full control.

An early scare did see Farsley forward Robbie Fox curl against the post from inside the box, though from then on it was all home pressure, with Lowery coming off the bench to score his first senior Heed goal on 52 minutes.

Thompson added his name to the scoresheet with 71 minutes on the clock to make it five when he found the bottom corner, before another academy product in the form of Lynn netted his first senior goal for six.

Jovan Malcolm’s 25-yard strike was spilled into the back of the net by Flavell for Gateshead’s seventh with five minutes to go, leaving just enough time for Thompson to score his second – and The Heed’s eighth – moments before the final whistle.

Gateshead: Mason, Belehouan (Radcliffe, 70’), Tinkler, Jones, Thompson, Williams (Lynn, 78’), Booty (Lowery, 46’), Home, Worman (Oseni, 78’), Newton (Bone, 70’), Malcolm.

Substitutes: Basey, Whelan.

Goals: Worman (24’), Booty (36’), Newton (39’), Lowery (52’), Thompson (71’, 90’), Lynn (83’), Malcolm (85’).

Yellow Cards: Thompson (27’)

Farsley Celtic: Flavell, Newsome, Walker (Morrisey, 70’), Polworth, Bumhera, Kondolo, Pickard, Edmundson (McLaren, 62’), Youmbi, Monteiro (Hachem, 77’), Fox (Finch, 77’).

Substitutes: Wilson.

Goals: Youmbi (4’, pen)

Attendance: 351 (5 away)