Match Preview - Gateshead Rutherford (A*) - Durham County FA Frank Pattison Challenge Cup - Wednesday 10th September 2025 - Kick-Off 19:30pm

by Jeff King

• PLEASE NOTE THIS GAME IS BEING PLAYED AT THE RIVERSIDE, CHESTER-LE-STREET

Gateshead Rutherford FC 'host' Park View AFC in the First Round of the Durham County FA Frank Pattison Challenge Cup on Wednesday night. Due to issues with Rutherford's floodlighting the venue has been reversed.

Rutherford come into the game sitting in 7th position in the Bay Plastics Northern Alliance League Premier Division. Manager Mick Watson's side have 5 wins and 3 losses from their 8 fixtures for 15 points.

They have scored 15 goals and conceded 13. They have also played a Cup game against Heddon United that they won 9 - 0! Indeed their last four games have all been high scoring wins which means they are in terrific recent form.

As well as the 9 goals they scored against Heddon, the other three league wins have all been by 3 - 2 showing their resilience to get results and provide entertainment at the same time.

Their top scorers with 4 goals each in all competitions are Dominic Smith and Ben Ridley. Shay Dawson has also netted on 3 occasions. They will provide a tough test for Park View in 'The Senior Durham Cup Competition.'

Park View meanwhile come into the game on the back of a 6 game unbeaten run that has seen them keep clean sheets in all six games. Three 2 - 0 wins and three 0 - 0 draws that sees them sit 5th in Ebac Northern League Division 2.

If you add in the 40 minutes they played at the end of the Sunderland West End game it means Park View have now gone 580 minutes without conceding a goal. A remarkable achievement from a side that is very difficult to beat.

Top scorer Nathan Conroy who has netted 6 times this season, Charlie Loveday who has scored 4 times and Stephen Siyanbola all appear to be fully-fit again and back in the squads/starting XI which is good news for The Club.

A reminder that Wednesday's game if level after 90 minutes will go straight to penalty kicks and that the game is scheduled to kick-off at 7:30pm.