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Gateshead 2 Barrow 3

Date: Wednesday 10th February 2010, by Tynesider

Time to roll out the old cliche - "We can now concentrate on the league". A cold Tuesday night at the stadium saw big changes to the side and some horrendous errors cost us a place in the Quarter Finals of the Trophy as Barrow go through without really having scored a goal.

Three errors cost the Tynesiders in a winnable game as key players sat out through either being cup tied or not registered in time. The evening had started brightly as Gateshead went at Barrow, the combination of the improving Sinclair, Gate, Wake and Clare caused the Bluebirds early problems.

Gateshead took the lead within the first 10 minutes as Daryl Clare had a shot blocked only for James Sinclair to calmly side foot into the corner of the net. We then went on to create more great chances through Phil Turnbul firing over and a great chance for Kris Gate as he miscued a header from a cross on the right.

Kris Gate had to leave the field of play with a hamstring injury, and Gateshead's problems really started from there. An already reshuffled midfield saw Alex Francis drafted in off the bench to play alongside Darren Williams in the centre. A bizarre tactical swap then occured with the dangerous Sinclair being switched to the left wing and Turnbull moving to the right. Whilst this slightly improved Turnbull's game it pretty much took Sinclair out of it for a large period, until they switched back in the second half by which time Sinclair had run out of energy.

Barrow came into the game and Paul Farman had to make a smart stop with his legs from Boyd, however the equaliser then came as Farman undid his good work with a crazy feet first lunge at Walker's feet giving away a penalty. Walker picked himself up to calmly slot in the bottom left corner, sending Farman the wrong way.

Barrow then hit the bar before the self destruct button was fully pressed on the stroke of half-time. A cross from the right found Carl Jones all alone on the penalty spot, only for the defender to stretch and slice a thick outside edge over Farman into the far corner. In cricket terms Jones edged and gone, as he didn't reappear for the second half with Swailes coming out instead.

Half-time 1-2

Gateshead came out brighter in the second half and were back level on 48 minutes when Daryl Clare converted a right-wing cross cum box scramble with a close range finish.

At this point it seemed like we could push on and win it, with increasing pressure being put on Barrow. Sinclair made the improved (from last week) Deasy pull off a one-handed save. Clare then had a great chance as he headed just the wrongside of the wood work from a corner.

Unfortunately the old self-destruct button came to the fore again as Barrow re-took the lead when Bond went down the left, turned inside and hit a right footed cross that both Curtis and Farman seemed to leave for the other to deal with only for it to bobble over the line. Farman had an excellent game on Saturday, but unfortunately his inexperience for all three goals last night cost us. He needs to start shouting at his defence and telling them what to do, and if in doubt, clear it out.

The remainder of the match was played out with Gateshead throwing the kitchen sink at Barrow, but never likely to score as it was all route one lump it rubbish which Barrow dealt with easily.

Gateshead were very lucky to not be down to 10 men right at the end, as Barrow looked to have a blatent penalty turned down and an almost certain red card for Curtis when Blundell was upended through on goal. The referee waved it away, then the linesman flagged for it, but thankfully after discussion was over ruled and the game started with a bizarre drop ball as the ref put the ball directly in Farman's hands.

That was it though, the Wembley dream dies for another year. Barrow will now go through to face York at home in the Quarter Finals, with York's Gateshead born striker Richard Brodie spying from the stands, it'll certainly be a tough test for them. Luckily for us, lastnight's results in the league went our way and the Chester situation may come to a head after they failed to show up at Forest Green Rovers. We now move onto Saturday and a trip to the Public Relations specialists Hayes and Yeading who lastnight beat Grays 4-0 at home in front of 251 people. Hopefully Gatey can recover from his hamstring injury to partner Ferrell in the centre.

Thursday Reserve Friendly v Hartlepool United XI - ***Cancelled***

Update: The Reserve Friendly has been cancelled.

Gateshead XI are due to take on a Hartlepool United XI at Billingham Town on Thursday. This is seen as another chance to give Northern Irish centre-half Wayne Buchanan a run out. However lastnight's Northern League fixture at Billingham Town was postponed 30 minutes before kick-off when they realised the floodlights weren't working due to someone stealing part of the cabling. So confirmation is awaited to hear whether this fixture will proceed or not.