St Helens Town 0 Gateshead 0

TRAVEL-weary Town hit the road again on Saturday when they make the trip to Newcastle (Staffs) to face Eastwood Hanley.

It comes just three days after travelling to Gateshead in Wednesday night's FA Cup replay in the National Stadium.

Town's second trip to the North East in two weeks came by virtue of a marvellous battling display at sundrenched Hoghton Road, where they survived an early roasting before coming off the ropes to have their Vauxhall Conference opponents deeply worried.

Hero of Town's first half examination was keeper Mark Winstanley, who first turned Foreman's low drive around the post, before diverting Proudlock's volley against the underside of the crossbar as the Geordies threatened an avalanche.

Timely blocks by Gary Lowe and Glen Walker also saved the day as Gateshead's Kenny Lowe created chances for Ord and Proudlock but somehow the locals survived as Winstanley denied Proudlock brilliantly and when Foreman's effort struck a post the Gateshead dismany was evident, while Town's self-belief began to grow and former Watford keeper Steve Sherwood was to cease his role as a virtual spectator.

Attacking the Hoghton Road end goal after the interval, Town began their push and within a minute Gatesheads Watson cleared off the line from Bickerstaffe after Ungi had cleverly won Town's first corner kick of the contest.

On 57 minutes Town almost took a shock lead when Ungi battled his way to the bye line on the left and when Sherwood could only parry the low driven cross, Walker raced in at top speed but couldn't keep his effort down from six yards.

Shocked into a rapid response Gateshead broke away through Lowe but Winstanley did very well in the one on one, with Byron recovering well to tidy up the loose ball. On the hour Winstanley again repeated the feat with Lowe again being foiled and from this point the Geordies fell away with Town posing the question as Sherwood repeatedly punched clear from Rothwell's deep throw-ins and a series of Bickerstaffe flag kicks.

Embarrassment all around was etched upon the Gateshead faces as they left the pitch, whereas the St Helens side departed to great applause from a superb effort based upon a little luck plus a gritty determination.

Saturday's kick off at Eastwood Hanley is 3pm.

St Helens: Winstanley, King, Lowe G, Walker, Rothwell. O'Neil capt, Bickerstaffe, Ashton, Ungi, Shaw M, Byron. Subs Halton, Martinus, Wilson.

Gateshead: Sherwood, Watson, Ord, Kitchen, Wright capt, Dowson, Proudlock, Pearson, Foreman, Lowe K, Rowe. Subs Haig, Robson, Howarth.

Ref R Milnes (Knaresborough).

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