A feast of five goals

The young Irish midfielder was outstanding as Town comfortably booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup at the expense of Gateshead.

He will be missed for Town's important league clash against high-flying Rotherham United on Saturday, with suspension ruling him out.

While O'Halloran can reflect on a terrific afternoon's work, this was far from being a one-man demolition show.

Steve Cowe fulfilled the role of 'supersub' as he netted twice in the closing stages, firstly with a delightful header and then a neat turn and shot in the final minute.

This was a committed Town display, with defenders, midfielders and forwards all contributing to a thoroughly professional display. It was also the first time Town had handed out such a thrashing since their 6-0 hammering of Huddersfield Town in 1996.

Andy King's frustration at his side's inability to show any consistency is well documented but two victories and two clean sheets on the bounce would suggest grounds for cautious optimism.

A three-goal burst in the final six minutes gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look, although no-one could deny that Town were full value for their win.

Andy King said Gateshead's win at Halifax in the last round showed there was the potential for a shock but the non league side never really looked like repeating the feat.

Once O'Halloran's 17th minute strike rocketed past goalkeeper Adrian Swan into the top corner, there was only ever going to be one winner.

Town roared forward from the first whistle and could have taken the lead after only 20 seconds.

A Bart Griemink clearance provided the recalled Martin Williams with the chance to pounce in the Gateshead area, only to see his goal-bound shot cleared off the line.

Barely 60 seconds later Ian Woan bent in another wickedly curving corner which flashed past the far post.

Sol Davis and O'Halloran then combined down the left flank in the sixth minute. The Irishman cut inside and fired just wide of the left hand post.

Swan was kept very busy in the opening stages as he also had to get down quickly to keep out a fierce effort from Ian Woan after 11 minutes.

Despite Town's early dominance, the home fans were almost stunned into silence following a rare Gateshead attack.

Steve Bowey's corner crashed back off Bart Griemink's left post and out to safety, much to the relief of both keeper and defenders.

Just five minutes later, O'Halloran fired home to give Town the lead and that could have been doubled in the 24th minute. Alan Reeves climbed high to meet Ian Woan's inswinging free kick but his header struck Gary Alexander and looped over the bar.

Martin Williams endured another afternoon of bitter frustration. Had Town carried on playing for another 90 minutes it seems unlikely the hard working striker would have found the net - a fact not lost on his manager.

In the 25th minute he latched on to a Gary Alexander flick, raced into the Gateshead box and arrowed his shot wide of the right hand post, with Danny Invincible just failing to connect.

Town went forward with both O'Halloran and the ever impressive Woan having shots blocked just before the interval.

The only criticism of Woan is his preference for using his left foot at all costs, giving defenders time to close him down.

The first half ended on a poor note for Williams who was booked for a foul on former Bristol Rovers man Steve Bowey.

A 1-0 lead against such lowly opponents was never going to be enough to prevent the jitters and Town started the second half hungry to create a comfort zone.

Four minutes after the interval Woan weaved into the box but was crowded out after taking too long to pull the trigger.

In the 51st minute, O'Halloran struck again to ensure Andy King would not have to endure an uncomfortable replay in the North East.

Bobby Howe crossed from the right and when the ball was only half cleared to the edge of the box, O'Halloran lifted a tremendous volley over Swan into the net.

Gary Alexander put in another hard working display and twice saw goal-bound efforts blocked in the space of a couple of minutes.

While the central defensive partnership of Alan Reeves and Antoine Van Der Linden rarely looked troubled, there was always the threat of a breakaway, with Steve Preen a particular nuisance.

Town's lead was almost halved in the 57th minute when Paul Talbot's cross from the left looked to be dipping beneath Bart Griemink's crossbar.

The big Dutch keeper did well to stretch backwards and tip the ball over for a corner. The result caused anxiety in the Town box, with the Gateshead forwards narrowly failing to connect.

Gateshead's leading scorer Wayne Edgcumbe entered the fray in the 61st minute but could only watch as Town surged forward in search of a third goal.

Woan curled a left foot shot over the bar before Williams submitted his entry in the comical miss of the season competition.

O'Halloran's shot from 25 yards was deflected into the path of the former Reading man but from only five yards he contrived to spoon the ball away from goal. The striker was at least in the right place to meet the ball and he tried again in the 65th minute, but failed to connect with Invincible's cross.

It is hard not to feel sorry for Williams who is fully committed to the Town cause but appears to suffer an allergic reaction in front of goal at times. He was replaced in the 70th minute by Steve Cowe.

Edgcumbe tried hard to pull Gateshead back into the game, shooting wide in the 71st minute and was then denied by a fine Van Der Linden block five minutes later.

The same player had to be alert to deflect Paul Dalton's strike in the 78th minute, just seconds after Alexander had headed wide at the other end.

With Town comfortably ahead, King decided to introduce David Duke (for Sol Davis) and the hero of the first round victory over Ilkeston, Alan Young (for Danny Invincible).

The diminutive striker instantly made his presence known, lifting the crowd and adding a cutting edge to Town's attack.

Duke saw his effort fly wide of the post in the 82nd minute, but the two other substitutes combined in the 84th minute to lethal effect. Young's cross was met at the near post by Steve Cowe who placed his header beyond Swan into the net at the Town End.

Howe, also a scorer against Ilkeston, added his name to the scoresheet in the 88th minute, stabbing the ball home after an Alexander header was pushed out by Swan.

Having gone so long without a goal, Cowe decided to celebrate with another.

With the clock ticking towards stoppage time, he swivelled in the box to lash home Town's fifth and send the County Ground faithful home dreaming of further cup glory.