They have patiently waited for their opponent to be revealed and now Gateshead are ready to head to Bromley and make their mark on the first leg of the Buildbase FA Trophy semi-final.
Arguably the biggest game of their season to date, the Heed’s preparation for the fixture was hampered by Bromley’s quarter- final replay.
The Ravens eventually clinched victory over Spennymoor Town in a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night.
The first leg, held at Hayes Lane will see Bromley take on their first fellow National League team in the tournament.
Gateshead however have had a tumultuous journey with three replays against National League sides and manager Steve Watson hopes their winning form can continue.
He said: “Having an extra day to recover will help us physically, but I don’t expect us to have a huge advantage because of that.
“Bromley have got some good footballers and are on their home pitch, which they’re used to, and I’m under no illusion how difficult it is going to be.”
The manager is under no illusions of how important it is to stay in contention after the first leg, not only for the club, but for Gateshead as a town.
“That would be massive for everyone at Gateshead and it’s important we’re still in the tie next weekend,” he added.
The club have enjoyed a steady rise through the ranks since 2008, adopting a full-time squad for the first time in 2010 in conjunction with promotion to the National League.
Currently sitting in 12th place in the league, it is no surprise the prospect of silverware is at the forefront of the players, manager’s and fans’ mind.
He said: “The mood among the lads is great and like me, they’re looking forward to the game and are desperate to get to Wembley.
“We have to be positive as we need to score goals to get through to Wembley, and the ideal scenario would be to come back with a lead.”
Watson, however will be wary of his east London opponents who put two late goals past his team at the International Stadium in October to secure a 2-1 victory.
Neil Smith’s men face an arduous task of regrouping as a squad in just 48 hours before their match up on Saturday.
Just two places above Gateshead in the league table, the manager is focusing on the players’ motivation to go out and perform.
He said: “We wanted to have a good run in this Trophy, for the supporters and we’re into the next round.
“Long may it continue.”
FA Trophy History
Both teams have not reached this stage of the competition before. Neither reached the third-round last year with Bromley losing 2-1 to Welling United and Gateshead going down to 3-1 to Lincoln City.
Prize
The semi-final winners will receive £20,000 for their club, whilst a guaranteed £30,000 for making the final.
