Lee brothers come back to haunt Watson

AS A player with Newcastle United, Steve Watson would have been joined on the St James’ Park pitch during their post-season lap of honour by two young boys named Olly and Elliot. Yesterday, just across the River Tyne, those brothers conspired to deny Watson’s National League side Gateshead a place in the FA Cup third round. In the stands at the International Stadium was his former Newcastle team-mate Rob Lee, the proud father of the Luton scorers. The former England international retired from the biting Tyneside air when his boys left the field as part of a double substitution in the 69th minute. Seconds earlier, Olly’s shot had deflected into the path of Elliot and he slotted home the third for the League Two leaders. Olly Lee’s goal arrived four minutes before half-time, tucking into an empty net after a collision between Gateshead goalkeeper Dan Hanford and Scott Barrow. Defender Barrow was still unconscious when he was taken away in an ambulance 15 minutes later but was talking and undergoing scans last night. Olly Lee said: ‘It was unfortunate the way the goal came about but I had no idea what was going on at the time, I just took a touch and put it in. We all hope he’s OK.’ Watson coached Olly when he was in the development squad at Birmingham City and he has memories of the brothers during the Nineties at Newcastle. ‘I remember them running around the players’ lounge with my kids,’ said the Gateshead boss. ‘I’ve worked with Olly so I know all about their quality. But we were bang in the game until that third goal and afterwards it became stretched and Luton took advantage.’ Dan Potts had earlier headed Luton’s second goal and there were two more in stoppage time courtesy of Danny Hylton and Luke Berry. Luton captain Alan Sheehan said: ‘We’ll take who we get in the third round because last year I wanted Manchester United and we got Accrington Stanley away, but that’s the beauty of the FA Cup.’ But Olly Lee added: ‘No, I definitely want Newcastle away!’