Gateshead 4 Redditch United 0

Two goals either side of the break from Gateshead dumped Redditch out of the FA Umbro Trophy first round.

Uninspired and unimaginative United struggled to find any sort of form in a bad tempered match at Gateshead's International Stadium.

But the result could have been so much different for the Reds if Scott Colcombe's effort in the first minute had found the net instead of going inches over.

A superb knock down by United's lone striker Paul Danks left Colcombe unmarked on the edge of the area but he fired his left foot drive just over.

Gateshead looked rattled but Redditch let the hosts dominate possession and from then on had to face continual pressure.

The brittle Reds defence finally cracked after 22 minutes when a sweet corner from the right was met by Gateshead's towering defender Rob Jones who left United youth keeper Chris Scott no chance.

Gateshead striker Rob Painter should have doubled the home team's tally two minutes later after he was found unmarked in the Reds penalty box, but a gutsy save by 18-year-old Scott denied him.

And just as United were looking forward to regrouping at the interval another dangerous cross came in from the right.

After a scramble Reds defender Tommy Byrne tried to hack clear only to slice his attempt into the roof of his own net.

Redditch looked sharp at the start of the second period, and Ian Mitchell's curling effort from 30 yards out worried the home keeper from the restart, but Mitchell's effort hit the bar.

Any hope the travelling fans had of a Redditch revival quickly faded as Gateshead added a third.

A quick exchange of one touch passes from the Gateshead strikers let in Phil Ross to tap the ball home.

Reds boss Nicky Cross tried to add more attacking force by throwing on Gary Hackett and Michael Campbell but to no effect.

And the home team wrapped up an impressive performance with a fourth, eight minutes from time.

Substitute forward Craig Nelson was brought down in the Reds penalty area and Steve Preen stepped up to slam the ball home from the spot.