My cousin from Kent, who is also a Toon fan via his late Dad's influence, had two tickets in the director's box for this game today.

It's the first lower league game I've watched since the old Gateshead side were in the Third North.

I was quite surprised at the standard of the game and really impressed by Crawley's beautiful billiard table pitch.

Apparently the Gillingham goalie, who won the game for them with a penalty save and a few good stops, was on the Toon books as a youngster.