Gateshead Reserves aim for last eight spot

Gateshead reserves will attempt to reach the last eight of the Durham Challenge Cup tonight when they take on Northern League 1st division side Billingham Town on Teesside.

It is the second string's third visit to Bedford Terrace this season and Paul Bryson's side will face a Town outfit currently 15th in the table.

Four defeats have been recorded on home soil where they have let in 18 goals, only four other top flight sides have conceded more at home.

"After beating Brandon United and Ryhope CW previously in the competition this is comfortably our hardest game so far," said Bryson.

"What we might lack in experience we make up for in youthful exuberance and there is a lot of energy in the side.

"There is a place in the quarter-final at stake. We will be giving it a right go and it could well be a tight game."

Gateshead are able to call upon seven professionals with goalkeeper Paul Farman set to play his first 90 minutes of the season.

Four of those have played for the first team this season and the experienced Brian Wake will lead the attack with teenager Kris Wilkinson, who scored twice against Ryhope CW, in an advanced role.

Gateshead Reserves: Farman, Gilbert, Jones, Scott, Brown, Fisher, Briggs, Baptist, Marwood, Wilkinson, Wake. Subs: Lay, Curry, Evans, McDonald, Wakefield

Billingham, who needed penalties to beat Darlington RA in the previous round, have former Gateshead, Hartlepool and Darlington left sided player Ian Clark in their ranks.

Kick-off at Billingham Town tonight is 7:30pm