Heed up for the Challenge

UNDER-19 FOOTBALL FORBES SETS CUMMINS’ SQUAD ON WAY TO A VICTORY OVER TOW LAW

GATESHEAD progressed in the the Durham Challenge Cup with a convincing 3-0 win at Tow Law.

Youngster Elliott Forbes gave the Heed an early lead after 15 minutes, firing beyond Lawyers’ goalkeeper Ryan Graham following good work down the right-hand side by Macaulay Langstaff.

Langstaff himself then got in on the goals on the half-hour mark after the lively JJ O’Donnell drove to the byline and cut back to the striker, who turned the ball into the net.

O’Donnell completed proceedings, firing a low 20-yard drive into the bottom right-hand corner to put the result beyond any doubt.

Manager Micky Cummins (pictured left) was pleased with his side’s performance.

He said: “The attitude and the approach from the lads was brilliant.

“They took it seriously, there have been times in the past where players have just turned up - but today everyone was at it.”

New Heed manager Steve Watson was in attendance at the Ironworks Road Ground as the Heed fielded a number of first-team players with a good mixture of youth.

Cummins added: “It was a proper chance for the gaffer to see some of these lads play properly as they have only trained three or four times.

“It has really given us both food for thought as there were good performances out there tonight.”

The Heed started brightly as Langstaff and Tom White both had half-chances inside the opening ten minutes.

The breakthrough was inevitable as Langstaff raced away from his marker before playing a brilliant ball to Forbes, who did all the rest.

The Tynesiders remained in the ascendency as Langstaff forced another good save from Graham.

Fraser Kerr then believed he had doubled the Heed’s lead as he rose highest to head home from a corner - only for the referee to award a free-kick to Tow Law.

Gateshead remained a constant threat down the left-hand flank and O’Donnell was released on a rampaging run towards the byline before cutting the ball back across goal to Langstaff ,who had an easy finish.

However, Tow Law were not without chances of their own.

Luke Maxwell was caught in possession by Lewy Teasdale, who fired a 30-yard effort off Ian MacLeod’s crossbar - only for the Heed to clear their lines as the ball bounced back into play.

Gateshead deserved their advantage at the break - but the Lawyers came out fighting early in the second half, which momentarily evened the game up.

Langstaff will feel aggrieved he could not add to his tally as he had the ball in the net again only to be flagged offside before Wes York went close with a 30-yard strike which went just past the post on 69 minutes.

Langstaff went close again in quick succession, first racing on to Kerr’s clearance he fired a rasping drive towards Graham which was well held, then his 20-yard drive went just over the bar.

O’Donnell (pictured right) hammered the final nail in the Tow Law coffin with a well-deserved goal with six minutes to spare to see the Heed progress.

Cummins paid tribute to midfielder Forbes, adding: “He looked composed and it was a good test for him.

“I was conscious of not giving the young lads too much game time but getting them playing with the senior players is only going to be a good thing for the club.”