Match Report: Will Brown

Gateshead booked their place at Wembley Stadium for a second successive Isuzu FA Trophy final in May with a 2-1 win over Macclesfield at Gateshead International Stadium.

Ben Worman fired the Heed in front in the fifth minute when he drilled the ball into the goal, before Callum Whelan then pushed Gateshead one step closer to Wembley in the 25th minute with his close-range effort.

The visitors did slow down the Heed faithful’s celebrations in the 47th minute – when Kane Drummond rifled an effort into the bottom corner from distance.

Rob Elliot made five changes to to the team that defeated Rochdale 1-0 last week. James Montgomery, Joe Grayson, Ben Worman Greg Olley, and Tom Allan were the five re-introudecd into the squad.

Dajaune Brown managed to dance his way into the box before he played a squared pass into the path of Worman to blast the ball into the back of the net.

Worman nearly managed to earn himself an assist in the 22nd minute. The midfielder played a clever pass behind the Macclesfield defensive line which Brown got on the end of before he dragged his shot wide.

After his initial shot was saved, Brown picked up the rebound and found Whelan with a short pass who then blasted the ball into the side netting to double the Heed’s advantage.

Gateshead came close to a third in the 32nd minute. Ed Francis looked up to curl an effort towards the top corner which Ollie Bryne had to be at full stretch to tip the effort onto the ball before a Macclesfield man cleared the danger on the line.

A failed clearance from the Gateshead defence allowed Drummond to pick up the ball and drive towards goal before he fired an effort into the bottom corner from distance,

In the 70th minute, Olley twisted and turned his man before he whipped a ball that looked destined to make the net ripple – but Bryne produced a magnificent save to keep his side in the game.

Gateshead: Montgomery, Tinkler, Richardson, Grayson, Francis, Worman (Storey, 90+4’), Whelan (Booty, 64’), Olley, Hannant, Allan (Dinanga, 74’), Brown.

Subs: Beach, Evans, McBride, Stott.

Goals: Worman (5’), Whelan (25’)

Macclesfield: Byrne, Pemberton, Lee (Kengni, 80’), Lafferty, Heathcote, Perry (Curran, 72’), Mendy, Drummond, Owoloabi (Sweeney, 57’), Rooney, Duffy.

Subs: O’Keefe, Baker, Hughes, Clare.

Goals: Drummond (47’)

Attendance: 3,031 (695 away)