GATESHEAD today go into their latest cup tie against a local rival hoping for a repeat of last's season meeting with Blyth Spartans.

The sides are paired in an FA Cup first round tie at Croft Park in a rematch of their FA Trophy tie in February when the Heed won 2-0.

It was the first North-East cup derby for Ian Bogie's side last term as they went on to face Darlington in the semi-finals of the Trophy.

Quakers won, but Bogie's men won 3-0 when they faced another North-East side in Hebburn Town at the last stage of the FA Cup a fortnight ago.

An attendance of 2,719 watched the Trophy tie at Blyth last season, and another bumper gate is expected today.

Bogie said: "It should be a great occasion and we urge supporters to get behind the players.

"It's not a war, it's a game of football, so it's there to be enjoyed. They should come, enjoy a fantastic day and a fantastic atmosphere.

"Hopefully we can send the Gateshead fans happy with a victory, and looking forward to the draw for the next round.

"Everybody wants to be involved, training has been first class, the lads have shown great application and endeavour and we're really looking forward to the game.

"Everybody's looking forward to it, there's a buzz about the place and tickets have sold very well. There's going to be a 2000-3000-strong gate, a fantastic atmosphere. This is why you want to be a footballer, to play in front of crowds like that."

Gateshead are riding high in the Conference, sixth in the table, but Blyth, managed by Steve Cuggy, are bottom of the division below.

However, Darlington were in a similar scenario in the previous round when they faced Hinckley, but lost a replay 3-0, and Bogie is wary of succumbing to the same fate.

He said: "I know Steve Cuggy will be instilling in their players that they must come out and compete and not show us the respect that they ultimately showed us last season.

"They've got to be in our faces and we expect that. It's like us playing a team from a higher division, we'd have to do exactly the same.

"Blyth will be saying that they've got to try and stop us from playing, and really make it difficult for us.

"My concern is what we do and if we perform to our maximum on the day, I'm confident we can come away with the victory.

"We're under no illusions, Blyth will be the underdogs as they're part-time and struggling and we're full-time.

"But that goes out of the window in cup football. We've done our homework on Blyth and we'll give them every respect they deserve.

"I've seen them on a number of occasions and I know a lot of their players because they've played for me. I know their characteristics, their strengths and weaknesses.

"We know we can make it very difficult for ourselves unless we play to our potential and move the ball quickly, work hard and compete. We've got to earn the right to play football.

"Our lads will do that and hopefully we'll get into the next round. That's the most important thing."