Ram raid ends Norton run

Rob Ramshaw netted a hat-trick to ensure Gateshead suffered no FA Cup first-round embarrassments courtesy of a 4-0 win at Norton United.Victory for the Conference high-fliers never really looked in doubt against their Evo-Stik South counterparts once Alex Rodman opened the scoring early on before Ramshaw's treble sealed the tie.Part-time Norton, who ply their trade at the eighth tier of English football, started brightly but were soon chasing the game when the Heed broke the deadlock in the 11th minute.Ex-Sunderland and Everton midfielder John Oster fed Rodman who turned inside the area and fired past keeper Danny Roberts.The Potteries-based underdogs kept fighting but two quickfire goals before half-time killed any chance of an upset.Ramshaw, who had only scored twice all season before the game, converted Craig Baxter's cross and then capitalised on a loose ball in the box to make it 3-0 at the interval.Norton improved after the break but after they saw defender Tom Winkle carried off on a stretcher with a serious looking leg injury, they conceded again. Oster was involved once again to feed Ramshaw who headed home to complete his hat-trick in the 74th minute.