On paper, an eighth-tier side beating a National League club 5-0 should be one of the shocks of the season. In reality, anyone following Gateshead’s season won’t be entirely surprised. It’s still an upset, and Stafford Rangers deserve full credit, but this was a team in chaos meeting one in form.
The first game in the North East ended 1-1. Back at Marston Road on Tuesday, in front of more than 3,100 fans, Rangers were ruthless.
Scott Bakkor struck early and Darrhyl Mason made it two before half-time. Mitch Clarke, local lad Joe Dunne and Jack Birch, from the spot, added three more after the break.
Stafford began this FA Cup run in the extra preliminary round, and it now takes them into the first round proper for the first time in 20 years.
To understand the scoreline, you have to look at what’s been happening at Gateshead off the pitch.
Director Mark Nellist stepped down and withdrew his funding last month, which left the club unable to pay players and staff their September wages. The players put out a public statement pointing out that nobody can work for nothing when they have bills and families.
Lee Cattermole was sacked on 4 October with the club bottom of the National League on four points from 12 games. Before he went, he claimed in a post-match interview that some people inside the club didn’t want the team to move forward. There were also reports of senior players frozen out of the squad, and one of them, Dom Telford, has since joined Bury.
The club is still without a permanent manager, with Ben Clark in caretaker charge. A sale to US investment firm Flacks Group has been agreed in principle, but it still needs approval from the Independent Football Regulator.
Given all that, a heavy defeat away at a confident, settled non-league side wasn’t hard to imagine.
None of that takes anything away from Stafford. Graham Deakin’s side were clinical, and they get their reward with a home tie against Grimsby Town, chosen as one of first-round games for live TV.
The TV money, plus around £30,000 in expected gate receipts, makes this a major financial boost for the club. On this evidence, Rangers won’t be overawed when Grimsby visit.
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