Gateshead Reserves 2-3 Lincoln City Reserves

Gateshead reserves turned in a Jekyll & Hyde performance at the International Stadium last night as they lost by the odd goal in five against Lincoln City.

The Tynesiders had been three up at the interval in their last reserve outing against Grimsby Town but this time were three down at the same stage.

A lack-lustre Gateshead put in an awful opening 45 minutes but came back strongly in the second half to claw back some credibility.

"The first half display was absolutely embarrassing," said reserves manager Paul Bryson "it is the worst we have played and very few players emerged with any credit.

"We had to show some pride in the second half. We were a lot better, scored a couple of good goals and might have nicked a draw.

"Basic decision making had been poor in the first half and we conceded terrible goals, but I was pleased with the response in the second half.

"Marwood was lively, Baptist put in a good shift and took his goal well. Teenager Briggs did well as Andy Ferrell's replacement and Gillies applied himself in an unaccustomed right back role."

Carl Jones, likely to deputise for the injured James Curtis at the heart of the defence against Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, played in the opening hour.

Jonny Allan got 45 minutes in as he steps up his comeback campaign, James Marwood overcoming a broken hand to play in the second half.

With Gateshead down to one fit keeper due to Tim Deasy's injury, goalkeeping coach Chris Porter was handed his debut.

Lincoln, who included a number of first team squad players, were given the freedom of the park in a one-sided opening 45 minutes.

Brian Wake had a chance to give Gateshead an early lead but Josh O'Keefe, later to score two goals, got in a timely challenge.

Wake's lay-off then saw Allan's low 25 yard drive saved by former Gateshead goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite, but early promise soon fizzled out.

The Imps were ahead in the 14th minute when Porter could only parry a Gavin McAllum shot and O'Keefe easily slotted home the loose ball.

The lively O'Keefe almost doubled the lead before Lincoln were gifted a second goal on 23 minutes.

Former Gateshead loanee Clark Keltie's through ball should have been cut out by Luke Gilbert but the youngster instead played the ball off Andy Hutchinson midway inside the Gateshead half.

Hutchinson then raced clear to shoot past the exposed Porter to leave Gateshead with a mountain to climb.

Trialist Wesley Ngo Baheng shot wide from 23 yards after running at goal from David Brown's through ball and Baptist headed narrowly wide from Nathan Fisher's back post cross.

Fisher's heavily deflected shot was then trickling towards the bottom corner when Musselwhite belatedly went down in stages to make an ungainly save.

It was enough to earn tongue-in-cheek cries of 'dodgy keeper' from home fans in the Tyne & Wear stand.

Baheng had another effort deflected over the bar as Gateshead tried to get back into the game but Lincoln were the more cohesive outfit and they made it three a minute from half-time.

This time the Tynesiders defence failed to defend a left side corner and O'Keefe planted a close range bullet header into the net.

Marwood's pace and trickery caused the Imps problems after the break with the midfield finally getting to grips and Baptist seeing plenty of the ball.

A Gillies corner saw Jones volley just over the bar but Irishman O'Keefe was soon in again, Porter this time saving the day.

Marwood then nicked the ball off Kern Miller only to be denied by Musselwhite.

Lincoln should have added a fourth goal when Hutchinson too easily brushed off Jones' challenge but, left with only Porter to beat, the striker blazed wide of the far post.

A great ball from Marwood from just inside the Gateshead half saw Gateshead reduce the deficit just past the hour.

Baptist got in on the left side of the box and somehow managed to squeeze the ball in from the tightest of angles near the by-line.

Joe Anderson was inches wide with a curling free kick at the other end before good play from Frenchman Baheng called Musselwhite into action again.

Former Magpie Baheng got his shot away despite the attention of three defenders inside the box to force Musselwhite into a full length save.

O'Keefe missed the chance to complete his hat-trick and Keltie shot over from distance while Gillies was just off target with a 35 yard free kick.

Baptist then twice went close, an angled low drive tipped past the post and a 30 yard shot that flew wide.

It had been a much better second 45 minutes from Gateshead and they scored a second goal in injury time when Gillies long distance deflected shot looped over Musselwhite and into the roof of the net.

Gateshead Res: Porter, Gillies, Brown, Allan (Marwood 46), Jones (lay 61), Gilbert, Fisher, Ferrell (Briggs 46), Wake, Baheng, Baptist. Sub (not used): Scott