No FA Cup shock at Gateshead as Luton progress
By Jon Tait
When people talk about the romance of the FA Cup, it doesn’t conjure up many images in the mind of a wintry afternoon in Gateshead.
You’d have to be a real football purist to get excited at the prospect of a Second Round Tie in the North East at the International Stadium with its wide running track and open athletics stand.
The International just doesn’t have the feeling of an old, traditional ground. Being situated by an industrial estate doesn’t help, though the sight of the floodlight pylons still quickens the heart slightly during the walk down through the new housing estate from the Metro station. And the ‘Heed fans themselves generate a decent atmosphere with their drums and chants under the spacious roof.
Gateshead, of the National League, was always going to find League Two table-toppers Luton Town a tough proposition and in the end they were simply outclassed.
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Luton is the highest scoring side in English football this season and they found the net five times as Steve Watson’s ‘Heed were chasing shadows at times.
With midfielders Luke Berry and Andrew Shinnie having a great knack of finding space in midfield and picking out the passes, Town were a cut above and an FA Cup giant-killing act never looked on the cards in a very professional performance.
To rub salt into the Tynesiders’ wounds, two of the Luton goals were scored by former Newcastle United star Rob Lee’s sons, Olly and Elliot.
Gateshead have always been overshadowed by their near neighbours from across the Tyne Bridge and with Sunderland just down at the coast, the attraction of top flight football has always proved a bigger draw.
The club, however, is made up of full-time professional players so there was no chance of a waiter, construction worker or postman grabbing the headlines if they’d pulled off a surprise anyway.
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With the Premier League sides now making their entrance in the FA Cup Third Round draw on Monday, the chances of a shock result are increased – and that’s what everyone wants to see from this great competition.
And on this showing, the big boys won’t want to draw Luton Town out of the hat.