TERRIFIC TURBINES ARE BROWN AND OUT
LAST year’s beaten FA Trophy finalists Gateshead are one step from a quickfire return to Wembley after they ended Peterborough Sports’ record-breaking run in Non-League’s senior knockout competition.
National League North Sports looked down and out after the first quarter after Gateshead’s on-loan Derby striker Dajaune Brown recorded his first senior hat-trick.
A makeshift Heed left several of their big guns out and almost paid the price as the Turbines hit back with two goals in as many minutes before the hour.
Plucky Peterborough caused plenty of problems for a Heed side that struggled to get a grip in midfield and to repel high balls into the box, poor marking exacerbating their problems.
The National League high-flyers needed a fourth goal and it almost came midway through the second half when Brown thundered a low drive against the post.
The 100-strong travelling Sports fans, however, could easily have seen their history-making side take an absorbing tie to penalties, Gateshead relieved to hear the final whistle. “Fair play to Peterborough, I thought they were excellent,” said Gateshead interim manager Rob Elliot.
“They really troubled us with their physicality and direct play – it was a proper cup-tie.
“Brown took his chance today and we made a lot of changes but Peterborough will feel they should have got at least a draw, if not more. The main focus was to get through the tie and into the semis. For us, where we are in the league and in this competition is a fantastic achievement.”
Gateshead were ahead after just seven minutes when Regan Booty’s ball to Ben Worman came off Connor Johnson’s shins and into the path of Brown, who drilled a low shot past Peter Crook. It got worse for the underdogs 12 minutes later. Cardiff loanee Kieron Evans fed Brown, who went past Rory McAuley to fire home off an exposed Crook.
The Sports were opened up again three minutes later. Mamadou Jobe’s ball down the line seeing Brown bundle Lirak Hasani’s low cross into the net from close in.
That should have been game over but Dan Jarvis missed a sitter from five yards for the visitors. However, an unmarked Josh McCammon shot past James Montgomery and veteran striker Michael Gash headed home Jarvis’ 56th-minute cross.
McCammon then almost punished a Montgomery mistake before teenager Brown hit the visitors’ post.
Gateshead managed to see the game out to reach the last four of the Trophy for the fourth time.
“It was a hell of a game,” said emotional Sports joint-manager Luke Steele. “The lads were absolutely shattered at the end and had nothing else to give. I’m proud of them.”