Gateshead Reserves 2-5 Middlesbrough Reserves

In a season where, for the most part, they have been competitive this was a game too far for Gateshead's second string.

Against a young Middlesbrough outfit the contest was over inside the opening quarter of an hour.

Gateshead, with eight professionals in the side, were two down inside the opening three minutes and three down after 14.

Boro made it four before the interval with the Heed coming out of their slumber to make a much better fist of it in the second half.

On loan winger Adam Rundle scored twice with two good finishes after the break, Boro then adding a fifth.

The Teesiders blew Gateshead away early on, Gateshead College protégé Adam Reach volleying home the opener from 22 yards.

Curtis Edwards then eased past Carl Jones to square for former Celtic midfield man Willo Flood to tap in from one yard.

Paul Farman then saved from Charlie Wyke only for Reach to lash home the rebound.

With a lack lustre Gateshead all at sea Edwards drove an angled drive from outside the box against the far post.

Wyke made it four after 26 minutes waltzing past two defenders inside the box to leave Farman to pick the ball out of the net again.

Gateshead's first corner on 44 minutes saw Danni Lay bundle Rundle's flag kick against the post.

Rundle reduced the arrears from 22 yards on 57 minutes and then cut inside to find the net again from a similar distance.

It was two good strikes from the Morecambe man but Boro scored a fifth when Wyke slipped a short ball to Reach for his hat-trick.

Gateshead Res: Farman, Jones, Baptist (Jsh Allan 86), Winn, Lay, Heckingbottom, D. Brown, A.Brown, Mulligan, J.Allan, Rundle
Subs (not used): Scott, Wilkinson

Middlesbrough Res: Ripley, Oliver, Weldon, Jackson (Kneeshaw 68), Haas, Grounds, Dobie, Flood, Wyke, Edwards, Reach
Subs (not used): Andreou, Waters

Referee: Billy Khatib (Sunderland)