Heed roll over Stones to head to Orient

GATESHEAD will meet Leyton Orient in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy after they beat Maidstone United in last night’s third round replay, writes JEFF BOWRON.

The Heed eased into the last eight after a 3-0 victory over the Stones that was tougher than the final score suggests.

The tie was still in the balance until Paddy McLaughlin broke into the box to side-foot an angled shot into the far corner on 72 minutes.

It was a composed finish from the Irishman and it was followed by another from the recalled Richard Peniket five minutes from time.

Captain Neill Byrne had given Gateshead a 14th-minute lead – but only after his side had conceded their 10th penalty of the season.

James Montgomery was judged to have fouled Seth Twusami inside the box but atoned with a fine save from Jamar Loza’s spot kick.

Within five minutes the Heed had the lead and a good defensive display and ruthless finishing booked their place in the fourth round.

Manager Steve Watson said: “Defensively we were excellent. All night we looked solid and the wingbacks worked their socks off again.

“Monty has to take a huge amount of credit for coming back from the disappointment of giving away a penalty and getting himself mentally focused to make a great save.

“We can play better than that, we were a bit wasteful at times with our passing in the centre and when we got in and around the box.

“But we were ruthless with the chances that we created and deserved the win.

“We wanted a good run in the FA Trophy and we’re now in the quarter-final and being only three games from Wembley is massive.”

Byrne got on the end of Scott Barrow’s curling free-kick to give Gateshead an early lead at the back post.

It took the Heed until the hour mark to test Stones’ keeper Lee Worgan again, Peniket’s low drive tipped around the post at full stretch.

Montgomery had made a series of important saves to deny Delano Sam-Yorke as the Kent outfit probed for an equaliser.

Gateshead were more of a threat in the second half, McLaughlin breezing past Alex Wynter to give his side a two goal cushion.

Peniket then showed good strength to power into the box and drill a low shot past Worgan to put the icing on the cake.