Team news

After last weekend’s trip to Wembley, Andy Whing made two changes to the starting XI ahead of the FA Trophy final, as Kyle Morrison misses out through injury, whilst Tahvon Campbell is cup-tied.

Jay Benn and Mark Beck both come into the team with Matty Warburton, Joss Labadie and Jon Benton all on the substitutes bench.

Match report

Solihull Moors suffered more Wembley heartache as they lost the 2024 FA Trophy final 5-4 on penalties, after drawing 2-2 after 120 minutes.

The match began with Gateshead having the first shot inside the second minute, with Greg Olley’s effort on the edge of the box blocked by Alex Whitmore and James Clarke.

A minute later, Gateshead again looked dangerous with Luke Hannant’s cross just too powerful for Dajuane Brown to latch on to in the middle of the area.

The Moors though worked their way into the game and won a free kick after eight minutes after Mark Beck was fouled 28 yards out. But Jamey Osborne’s set piece was cleared by the Gateshead defence.

On 18 minutes, Whitmore again was in the way to block a shot from Olley after some good football from Gateshead.

Three minutes later, the Moors worked the ball well and a cross from Callum Maycock was narrowly missed by Beck before Jay Benn’s cross was cleared for a corner. From that corner, Osborne picked out Whitmore in the area, but he could only send his header over the bar.

A minute later, Gateshead responded with a massive chance of their own as a cross to the back-post was nodded by Ed Francis. His header looked sure to go in, but Benn was there to make the vital clearance.

In the 24th minute, Nana Boateng received the ball on the edge of the box on the right-hand side and drove at the Gateshead defence, as he cut in before striking towards goal. His shot though was straight at James Montgomery.

Ten minutes later, Gateshead had a half chance with Hannant sending in another dangerous cross towards the centre of the box but was too much for any teammate to meet.

A minute later, the Moors responded with a similar chance as Benn sent a low, powerful ball across the box and needed clearing from Hannant at the back-post.

On 40 minutes, Gateshead had the best chance of the game after some good passing play led to Olley curling an effort just wide of the post from 20 yards out.

In the first minute of added time, Gateshead pulled the ball back from the left-hand byline, with Ben Worman passing the ball for Dajaune Brown but the Moors did enough to clear.

In the last minute of the first half, Gateshead took the lead through Regan Booty. A long ball over the top of the Moors defence was picked up by Brown, who dribbled to the byline and cut the ball back for Booty to bundle the ball in to make it 1-0 heading into the break.

In the second half, the Moors started on the front foot and nearly equalised in the opening few minutes after Tyrese Shade crossed for Beck, who did not fully connect with the ball and allowed Gateshead to clear the ball for a corner.

From the following corner, Clarke volleyed towards goal, but he was denied by Montgomery.

On 52 minutes, Gateshead broke on the counterattack with Hannant again finding himself free to fire a cross but avoided everyone in a black and white shirt.

A minute later, Montgomery made a terrific save to deny Boateng from close range as the Moors piled on the pressure. Some brilliant passing around the Gateshead area led to Joe Sbarra squaring the ball for Boateng, but his shot was saved by the keeper.

On 59 minutes, Brown found himself in on goal after a long ball from Gateshead beat the Moors defence. With just Nick Hayes to beat, Brown chipped the ball over the goalkeeper but away from goal as the Moors cleared their lines.

Two minutes later, Hayes was called into action to deny Francis after he found himself free to shoot from 20 yards out. The shot dipped and was on target and needed saving from Hayes, who pushed the ball away from danger.

In the 69th minute, the Moors equalised with Beck scoring with a diving header. Substitute Matty Warburton clipped a ball over the top of the defence for Maycock, who released Joe Newton. Newton’s cross from the byline was beautifully met by Beck to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later, Sbarra was played in one-on-one by Warburton with only the keeper to beat. Sbarra beat Montgomery but failed to hit the target as the ball went wide of the post.

With 14 minutes to go, Beck won a free-kick 25 yards out from a central position with Osborne lining up to take it. The captain’s effort was blocked, before he had another effort fly over the bar shortly after.

With three minutes of normal time to go, Gateshead had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away after Kieron Evans had gone down under the challenge, but the referee deemed it not to be a foul.

On 89 minutes, a low cross by Tom Allan was spilled in the area with Brown the closest Gateshead player, but he could not get the ball past Hayes.

In the second minute of additional time, Osborne had a chance to score again at Wembley when he received the ball on the edge of the box and tried his luck. But his effort went just wide of the far corner.

Gateshead had one final shot of the game, with Evans shooting from 20 yards. But his effort went wide of the goal as the game would remain level after 90 minutes played.

In the first half of extra-time, Gateshead won a free kick near the penalty box, but the following cross was cleared by the Solihull defence.

In the 94th minute, Hayes made a huge save to deny Gateshead taking the lead after Evans was played in on goal. His shot was struck well, but saved by Hayes before the Moors could clear.

In the 100th minute, the Moors won a penalty after Beck was fouled in the box by Louis Storey. The cross by Sbarra was aimed for Beck, but the striker was pulled back in the area. After winning the spot-kick, the striker took the responsibility and placed the ball into the corner past Montgomery to complete the turnaround.

Four minutes later, Gateshead responded well with Evans sending a cross from the right-hand side towards Brown in the centre of the box. However, his header from ten yards went high and wide of Hayes’ goal.

In the second half of extra-time, Gateshead had a chance in the opening few minutes with Brown volleying a shot over the bar after a cross from the left-hand side.

After 110 minutes, Gateshead equalised after a ball to the far-post was kept alive by Allan, who tapped the ball towards the goal and Brown was in the right position to score and make it 2-2.

Following the goal, Gateshead searched for a winner with substitute Marcus Dinanga crossing the ball from a dangerous position for a teammate, but the Moors managed to clear.

On 116 minutes, Gateshead had a free kick from 25 yards out on the left-hand side of the pitch within shooting range. Francis’ effort had the dip but failed to test Hayes in the Solihull goal.

In the final minute of the game, the Moors looked to find a winner, but Maycock’s hot was blocked by Francis on the edge of the box as the game would go to penalties.

In the shootout, Warburton fired his penalty into the top right corner of the goal, before Booty’s penalty was saved by Hayes as he guessed the right way before pushing the ball away.

Shade was the second Moors player to take and ballooned the ball over the bar; whilst Dinanga sent his penalty into the corner to equalise.

Clarke’s penalty was hit down the middle but saved by Montgomery; but Francis also saw his spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper.

Beck stepped up to take his second penalty of the day and in similar fashion, put the ball in the top corner; before Olley also scored.

Montgomery guessed the right way for Newton’s penalty, but the ball crept into the goal; before Storey sent the keeper the wrong way to score.

Mafuta was next to step up, sending his penalty low into the bottom right corner; before Evans only just scored in the corner to make it 4-4 after six penalties each.

Labadie sent his penalty over the bar, but Hayes made a huge save to deny Allan from scoring the winner.

Whitmore hit his penalty high but rattled the crossbar, before Brown sent the keeper the wrong way for Gateshead to win.

With the 2023/24 season now finished, the players and staff will rest and recover ahead of another campaign in the National League under Andy Whing.

Moors starting XI: Hayes, Benn, Clarke, Whitmore, Newton, Osborne ©, Maycock, Shade, Sbarra, Boateng, Beck

Subs: Flahavan, Warburton (Boateng 65), Mafuta (Sbarra 106), Labadie (Osborne 96), Benton (Benn 91), Stearman, Howell

Gateshead starting XI: Montgomery, Tinkler, Booty, Whelan, Richardson, Francis, Olley ©, Worman, Brown, Grayson, Hannant

Subs: Harness, Storey (Hannant 79), Allan (Richardson 83), Dinanga (Worman 106), Evans (Whelan 76), McBride, Stott

Attendance: 19,964