Warrington's historic FA Cup run comes to an end

WARRINGTON Town’s historic run in the FA Cup came to an end with a 2-0 defeat at Conference side Gateshead.
After the heroic win over Exeter in the first round, it was always going to be a tougher task away from home, despite a travelling army of around 1,000 fans (pictured above), especially in the swirling wind at the Gateshead International Stadium, against a side renowned for their desire to get the ball down and play football.
Shaun Reid’s men were perhaps a little guilty of showing last season’s Conference play-off finalists too much respect in the opening exchanges, and the hosts didn’t need more than one invitation to make that count.
Former Premier League player John Oster started the move that created the opening goal in the seventh minute.
He fed Rob Ramshaw down the right hand side, and he shrugged off first round goal hero Craig Robinson to find space. He composed himself to deliver a pinpoint ball across the box for South Africa international Matty Pattison to finish well.
That rattled Warrington, and for the next couple of minutes, they fought hard to remain in the game.
Goalkeeper Karl Wills was called in to action on 10 minutes, getting down low to deny man of the match Alex Rodman, with Tom Hardwick clearing the loose ball from in the goalmouth.
But despite the early setback, Warrington grew in to the game, without really creating anything of note.
Left back Matty Doughty saw a lot of the play, but all Town could muster on a few occasions were aimless balls in to the box.
A nice move involving David Mannix released Louis Corrigan down the left, and his low ball in to the box was cleared.
And then off a cross from the other side, Lee Gaskell went closest with a spectacular overhead kick effort that fell wide of the post.
That was to be the best chance in the first half for Town, who almost fell two behind when Pattison took advantage of a Hardwick error only to hit his cross right across the face of goal.
Gateshead were having some success down the right hand side, but Town stood firm and went in to the break still in the game at 1-0.
Cheered on by a magnificent travelling support of 906, heard loudly despite the athletics track distancing the fans from the pitch, Warrington dug deep in the second half as the hosts tried to stretch the game with wide play.
After Doughty’s foul warranted the first yellow card of the game, Wills just about held on to a powerful free-kick driven at goal from 30 yards.
The increased space in the game gave midfielder Nathan Burke the chance to do some running with the ball, and he fed Mannix in the left channel shortly before the hour. Mannix chipped a ball towards the back post where Scott Metcalfe and Lewis Field were waiting, only for Gateshead ‘keeper Alex Barrett to get a critical touch and the chance was gone.
It could have been game over on the hour mark, when Pattison’s header across goal came back off the post with Wills beaten.
But Town showed no signs of giving up, and enjoyed their best spell of the match as the game entered its final quarter.
Metcalfe had what was probably the best chance Town had in the match, striking instinctively on the half-volley from 25 yards, and the ball flashed past the goalkeeper’s left hand post.
Substitute Ash Ruane then went down in the box, although the penalty shouts appeared to be ambitious.
Warrington pushed more men forward, and that created space for Gateshead to hit on the break. Danny Wright could have wrapped up the win three minutes from time when he chipped over and wide of Wills, only for the ball to hit the inside of the post and stay out.
Wills was then involved at the other end, going up for a 90th minute free kick which caused a scramble in the Gateshead box, but no goal for the visitors.
But as time ticked in to the four minutes added on, and Warrington desperately tried to keep the ball alive, Wills made an unfortunate error, presenting Wright with an open goal, and he duly obliged to make it 2-0.
There was still time for Steve Foster to go close, his shot blocked on the line, and another desperate clearance prevented a Warrington goal from the subsequent corner.
After eight matches and a first ever appearance in the FA Cup proper, Warrington’s attention now turns to their league promotion push, which continues with a trip to Radcliffe Boro on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Skipper David Mannix leads out the teams.

Lee Gaskell takes on the Gateshead defence

Gateshead: Bartlett, Baxter, Curtis, Clark, Allan (O’Donnell), Pattison, Turnbull, Chandler, Rodman, Oster (Wright), Ramshaw. Unused subs: Jones, Shaw, Guy, Rankine, Wilson.
Warrington: Wills, McCarten, Robinson, Hardwick (Foster), Field, Mannix, Burke, Corrigan, Doughty (Colbeck), Metcalfe, Gaskell (Ruane). Unused subs: Johnson, Davies, Booth, Gahgan.

Supporters arrive for the historic cup game at Gateshead