Today Rutherford travelled to Teeside to face Seaton Carew who had started the season very well, scoring 30 and conceding only 1 in all competitions.

Given the start to the season and the pre-season friendly, Rutherford knew they would have to be on their metal today and really work hard to take something back to Gateshead. I spent some time with Darren, the Seaton Carew coach, on Thursday at a Durham FA coaching event and I'd rewatched the VEO from the summer so I had a fair idea of how their team would line up and who were the danger players. Seaton play a 1-4-5-1 formation and try to hit either the centre forward or wide players earlier, who set the ball back for a longer pass forward either into the channel or a big switch of play. Essentially an up, back and through core move we try to utilise. They're very good at it and it's clearly effective.

So the plan was to match them up in midfield and go 3 at the back with Sam tasked with man marking the big number 9 with Taylor sweeping up behind. If Seaton we 2 up front, Callum was to go tight and we go 3v2 at the back. Agent Amir, who was desguised as a Seaton Carew player form the waist down, was to sit in central midfield and block the passing lanes to the number 9. Joe, returning to the starting line up, and James would have to put in an awful lot of running from wing back to ensure that the Seaton wide players didn't get in behind and unmarked.

In possession, Max Johnson was to drop slightly deeper than Max Billingham to create space for our own, up, back and through passes which would come from Michael and Elliott in central midfield.

In the first half it was all going to plan. Joe was having a barnstormer of a game on the right, winning tackles, driving the Seaton wingers and full backs into their own third and the Sam/Taylor combination had reduced the number 9 to only a few touches of the ball. The game was fast paced and very even. Rutherford took the lead somewhat fortuitously through Joe, who burst down the right and headed for the byline before attempting to whip over a cross for the Rutherford strikers but due to the fact he was crossing on the run, he caught the ball with the outside of his foot and the ball spun over the keepers head and into the far top corner. The runs and effort to this point alone deserved a goal so no one in red and black was complaining too much.

1 nil, the first time Seaton had been behind all season and Rutherford had a real foothold in the game. The next 20 minutes or so were much of the same, fast football, loads of solid challenges from both set of players and some decent football at times. Rutherford were living on their nerves at times, an excellent save from Jack following a corner was not only high quality but seriously brave as it was a bit of a scramble in there and he put his head in where boots were flying. Just before half time, Rutherford extended their lead through our own corner, Joe floated a brilliant ball to the back post for Michael to head home. 2-0 at half time.

At half time we spoke about maintaining our concentration and work rate, a lot of physical and mental effort had gone into the first 35 minutes so I didn't want to overload the players with loads of information. They were doing exactly what I'd asked them to do and it was a case of challenging them to do the same in the second half. I did ask if would try to pass the ball slightly better and relax a little in possession but other than that, it was same again please.

Seaton came out of the traps flying as you might expect but for 10 minutes or so Rutherford held firm until Seaton scored their own fortuitous goal, an own goal from a corner. Own goals are tough on a player but more often than not, they're pretty unfortunate and the player has the right intention. This was the same for Michael today. Michael simply has to try and clear the ball at the near post. It's what I ask him to do as he's a good header of the ball and most corners at our age don't go too far past the near post. If he lets the ball go, the Seaton player behind him scores. Next game, he'll clear the danger like he did earlier in the game, this time he was unlucky that the ball flew in off his shin.

2-1 and it was game on, big time!

The goal seemed to settle Rutherford, our passing improved and our concentration and effort remained. After only 6 minutes, Rutherford restored their 2 goal lead through Max Johnson following good work from Elliott and a great shot from Jacob which was the keeper save and Max Johnson score the rebound. 3-1

There was still 22 minutes left to play so no one was taking anything for granted and Seaton pushed hard to get back into the game and on 56 minutes they did following a good free kick following a harsh but probably fair handball.

From here on in, it was basically the Alamo with Seaton throwing everything at Rutherford's backline but there was no breaking through and in fact Rutherford almost scored a forth following an absolutely thunderous strike from Max Johnson which hit the underside of the crossbar, came down on the line (or was it over? who knows!!) and up into the air for seemingly a tap in from Michael who'd made up acres of ground only for the Seaton keeper to somehow block the shot and hold on to the ball.

In the last few moments of the game a deflected shot broke through to a Seaton player who looked miles offside, right in the middle of the box and almost certain to score but he was only able to slice the ball high and off the top of the crossbar. To concede then would've been harsh on Rutherford so it was a welcomed relief.

3-2 to Rutherford was the final score.

Man of the Match today was unbelievably difficult. Sam was awesome again, he kept the Seaton Carew striker quiet for large parts of the game, stuck to his task, didn't lose concentration and limited him to a couple of half chances. He was supported expertly by Callum and Taylor who between them swept up things well and rarely got beat 1v1.

Elliott, Michael, James, Aodan, Connor and Joseph put and incredible amount of work in the midfield, really put the miles in.

Amir's cool head, control and positioning gets better with every game, the amount of passes he not only blocks but controls in a game is incredible, none more so than the left foot rebona control he pulled off in the second half. I've never seen anything like it before. He can tackle too!

Max Johnson scored, linked up well and was incredibly unlucky with his long range shot. He's often the driving force for the team and today was no exception. Max Billingham and Jacob up front kept the Seaton defenders honest and were a constant threat in behind with their pace. They both linked up well too. Jack's save in the first half was a huge turning point in the match, that goes in and the game totally changes.

However it Joe who takes home todays award. Joe scored one and created another but that's only half the story. His work rate today was off the scale. Sprinting up and down the right hand side time and time again, either tackling the Seaton left winger or skinning the left back. He won pretty much every header and didn't lose a tackle. His set pieces were right on the money and his skill in 1v1's was a joy to watch. Well done Joe, excellent performance.

Week off next week, well deserved too.