Ten-man Maidenhead United ruthlessly punished by clinical Gateshead

Kevin Lokko goes up for a header against Gateshead. He was later sent off in the 17th minute. Photo: Ian Longthorne

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Maidenhead United 0, Gateshead 5

Maidenhead United were ruthlessly hit for five by a Gateshead at York Road this afternoon (Saturday) after centre half Kevin Lokko was sent off in the 17th minute.

On a day when the home side's display was about as miserable as the weather - and just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong - the Magpies were clinically put to the sword by a Gateshead side who move up to fourth in the table.

United had actually begun the game quite well as they looked to bring an end to a miserable run of eight matches without a win in all competitions.

But the outcome of the game hinged on the 17th minute dismissal of Lokko, and the home side could have few complaints about it. Owen Oseni had managed to race onto Jacob Butterfield's through ball and he was caught from behind by Lokko and prevented from running in on Craig Ross's goal. Referee Ross Martin reached for the red card and an already difficult looking afternoon for the Magpies in stormy conditions became a whole lot more uncomfortable.

To compound matters, Butterfield then blasted the visitors in front from the resultant free kick in the 19th minute and with Sam Barratt sacrificed for club captain Alan Massey, it became a damage limitation exercise for the home side, who now find themselves three points from safety in the National League relegation zone.

Had they managed to get through to half-time without conceding again, they could conceivably have convinced themselves they were still in the contest. But as it was, Gateshead grabbed their second in the dying embers of the half when Ben Worman crossed from the left and Massey dangled out a leg, knocking the ball past a helpless Ross at his near post.

Earlier in the half, Ross temporarily quietened the 'dodgy keeper' chants from the Gateshead fans when he pulled off a brilliant and instinctive save to deny Josh Williams a second for The Heed.

Two-nil down and down to 10 men at the break, Maidenhead's hopes looked slim to non-existent, and that's the way things played out.

Regan Booty scored a brilliant third for the visitors in the 51st minute, carving his way through some half-hearted challenges before curling the ball home. But it was far too easily done from the hosts' perspective.

Remy Clerima - a first half substitute for the injured Miles Welch-Hayes - was then substituted himself for Thierry Latty-Fairweather - as United's injury problems went from bad to worse.

A fourth followed for Gateshead on the hour mark when Luke Hannant teed up Callum Whealan on the edge of the area and he drilled the ball past Ross. And a clinical second half showing became more of a procession in the 66th minute when Butterfield tapped home his second of the game from inside the area.

A succession of substitutions for both teams took the sting from the game, with Gateshead content to sit on their five-goal lead in the final 15 minutes.

Josh Home had a chance to slide home Gateshead's sixth in injury-time - which would have equalled Maidenhead's record home defeat in the National League - but he spared their blushes by rolling the chance wide of the mark.