Just about significantly recovered from all the traumas etc + Scott Willis :laugh: of some 30 hours away to produce my report of the match.
Saturday September 27th 2008 - F.A. Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
GATESHEAD 1 WITTON ALBION 1 attendance 212
TEAM: Smith G.; Drew, Scott, Burke, Donnelly; Proffitt (Thaker h/t), Willis, Thornley B., Smith S. (Gouldbourne 79); Thompson (Settle 90) & Thornley R. Unused subs: Dunne, Skelton, Lenders & Schwarz. Albion Man of Match: Paul Donnelly.
Albion forced a deserved replay against their Conference North hosts at the vast International Stadium courtesy of a calmly despatched penalty kick from MARK DREW in the final scheduled minute of the tie awarded for hand-ball against right back Craig Baxter whom seemed totally mesmerised by Lee Thompson’s late surge.
With Drew playing in the right wing back position the fairly sizable following of Wittoners saw their team’s formation constantly changing throughout the opening period, starting 4-4-2 then 4-3-3 with a few unusual 3-4-3’s thrown in for good measure.
The first saves of the match saw both keepers called upon in the 11th minute, Greg Smith catching Wayne Philips’s attempt whilst Paul Musselwhite used his body to block Scott Willis’s shot. Five minutes later Smith then comfortably held Philips’s free-kick. On 27 minutes Musselwhite firstly dived to stop Thompson’s effort before pushing the ball away as Rod Thornley closed him down on the edge of his area. Smith then produced an equally good save from Philip Turnbull’s long range low driven shot.
In the 32nd minute Rod Thornley committed a foul but when the home side attempted to take the resultant free-kick five yards further upfield the Albion striker intervened to kick the ball back the required distance. Astonishingly Kirby Stephen referee Bernard Law showed the yellow card and when Willis added his twopennyworth he also was cautioned. Needless to say the free-kick was then taken from exactly the spot where Thornley kicked the ball to whilst the two affected players had to endure the further hour or so under additional and totally unfair pressure. Even harder to swallow for the incensed visitors was no action taken when a home player blatantly kicked the ball away shortly afterwards.
Twice in the last five minutes of the half, after Albion had defended well themselves, they were denied a lead by Musselwhite, Ben Thornley released Thompson whose angled shot forced the keeper to dive to his left to save and then blocking Rod Thornley’s shot.
Four minutes into the second period Paul Donnelly - my personal choice as Man of the Match especially when he later soldiered on carrying an injury - was on hand to spot and then clear the danger when Gateshead’s captain Kris Gate’s effort from the right looked to be breaking the deadlock. Ross Thaker, who’d replaced the disappointing Proffitt, immediately counter attacked with his 25 yard effort dipping just over the crossbar. Smith then held onto Graeme Armstrong’s headed attempt following a corner-kick.
Gary Scott, just after the hour mark, produced lovely footwork by defying two attackers before playing the ball perfectly into Willis’s path but the midfield man’s rushed attempt saw the ball well off target. Thompson was then thwarted by Musselwhite who shortly after was very alert when it appeared only he and Rod Thornley realised that Mr Law had awarded Albion a free-kick, the striker’s quickly taken kick being pushed away whilst the other 20 players and the crowd yards away remained totally mesmerised as to what offence had been committed.
In the 71st minute Gateshead took the lead, somewhat against the run of play but it was the ever dangerous Philips out on the left flank that spotted his opposite wingman JAMIE HARWOOD well positioned. Smith, at the second attempt, denied Philips a goal of his own but Albion with Thompson looking stronger and stronger and substitute Zane Gouldbourne upsetting the home team’s rhythm didn’t give up and were duly rewarded.
In stoppage time Gouldbourne combined well with Rod Thornley but the home keeper got down to save at the right post. Unfortunately Albion then were forced to play the final couple of minutes minus Ben Thornley after he received a second yellow from the highly controversial match referee who somewhat thankfully perhaps will not be officiating on Tuesday!