Match Report: Will Brown

Gateshead survived a late scare to progress to the Isuzu FA Trophy fifth round via penalties at the expense of Weston-super-Mare.

Weston-super-Mare couldn’t have asked for a better start when Dayle Grubb curled an effort into the top corner in the second minute. Louis Storey’s directed header gave the Tynesiders a well-earned goal just before half-time.

Heed fans were still making their way back to their seats when Marcus Dinanga scored with a bullet header – just 20 seconds into the second half. Lloyd Humphries forced the game to penalties when he got in on the attack – as he was the next player to score from a header.

Storey scored the decisive penalty to send Gateshead to the next round of the FA Trophy, as he converted with a confident strike from the 12-yard spot.

Rob Elliott made three changes to the team that suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Chesterfield on Wednesday night. Ben Worman and Will Constantin made their first starts for the Heed – while Harrison Bond was named as the starting goalkeeper ahead of recent signing Eddie Beech.

Both sides looked lively early on but it was the visitors who managed to gain an advantage with their first chance of the match. With no options available – Weston-super-Mare skipper, Grubb, decided to bend an effort from outside the box which found the top corner.

Humphries dispossessed Oli Thompson with a crunching challenge in the seventh minute – before he tried a spectacular shot from inside his own half which flew just passed the post to the relief of Bond.

The Seagulls couldn’t seem to pin down Storey as the centre-back soon found his first goal of the season. A first-time cross from Constantin found Storey – who darted towards the font-post to flick the ball into the far corner with a well-timed header.

Connor McBride skipped away from two Weston-super-Mare defenders early on in the second half – before he played a sensational cross to an unmarked Dinanga to head the Tynesiders in front.

Grubb tried to replicate his earlier goal with another long-ranged attempt in the 54th minute. Bond produced a spectacular save to keep Grubb’s effort out before he reacted quickly to save the rebound.

Weston-super-Mare’s constant pressure soon paid off – as they found another goal to send the games to penalties. A floated corner by Grubb found Humphries, who rose above everyone to head home an equaliser.

Grubb missed the opening penalty to the delight of the Heed faithful who couldn’t have asked for a better start and their nerves soon settled once Regan Booty calmly dispatched his chance. The next four penalties were converted until Alex Fletcher blazed an effort over the bar from the 12-yard spot.

Max Harris kept the Seagulls’ FA Trophy hopes alive when he dived to his left to keep Dinanga’s penalty out. But it was Storey who sent the Heed through to the FA Trophy fifth round when he thumped his penalty past Harris.

Gateshead: Bond, Richardson, Storey, Constantin, Hunter (Lowery 76’), Thompson, Stott, Hasani, Worman (Booty 60’), McBride (Hannant 60’), Dinanga

Subs: Beach

Goals: Storey (45+1’), Dinanga (46’)

Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Thomas, Bastin (Kempster 82’), Cane (Fletcher 90+4), Humphries, Pope, Willmott, Dodd, Soule (Mannings 67’), Grubb, Reid

Subs: Edwards

Goals: Grubb (2’), Humphries (90+1’)

Penalties: Gateshead 4-3 Weston-super-Mare

Attendance: 566 (39 away)