Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead will contest an Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying replay after a 1-1 draw against Stafford Rangers.

Both goals came inside the opening five minutes at Gateshead International Stadium as Ash Boatswain put The Heed in front two minutes in, three minutes before Jack Birch levelled for Stafford to take the tie to a replay next Tuesday.

Gateshead started on the front foot immediately from kick off, with Harry Chapman striking the side netting before the resulting corner allowed Michael Spellman to force Leon Phillips to save at his far post with a 20-yard effort.

The second corner of the game led to the first goal, with a short routine seeing Spellman’s cross converted by Boatswain from close range for his second goal of the season having returned from international duty this week.

The Heed’s advantage lasted only three minutes however as Birch brought Stafford level with a well-placed strike from the edge of the box after the visitors broke down the left on the counter attack.

Stafford struck the crossbar eight minutes in as their confidence grew, before Pete Jameson made a smart stop to prevent the visitors from netting a second shortly afterwards.

Spellman came closest to notching another for Gateshead when he was played through on goal by Freddie Issaka, only for his shot to be blocked by a last-ditch sliding challenge from Stafford defender Andy Burns.

Darrhyl Mason sent a header just over the crossbar for the visitors shortly after half time when he was picked out by Scott Bakkor in the box, while at the other end Spellman sent a long-range effort over the bar for Gateshead.

Jameson was called upon to make a big save at his near post to keep Gateshead on level terms when Bakkor tried to squeeze a shot past him at the near post, before substitute Jordy Hiwula headed a cross wide for The Heed in the final few minutes.

The two sides couldn’t be separated come full time, setting up a replay at the Stan Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, October 20^th.

Gateshead: Jameson, Lavery, D. Ferguson, Robinson (Lankshear, 77’), Chapman (Coyle, 84’), Spellman, Home (Bowen, 67’), John, Chadwick (Supyk, 62’), Issaka, Boatswain (Hiwula, 77’)

Substitutes: Douglas, Holgate.

Goals: Boatswain (2’)

Yellow Cards: Lavery (78’)

Stafford Rangers: Phillips, Gomes, Dunne, Ferrier, Burns (c), Bakkor, Birch, Mason (Da Silva 89’), Webster (82’), Clarke, Efunnuga.

Substitutes: Zaknoune, Chimenes, Saunders, Dilks, Washington.

Goals: Birch (5’)

Yellow Cards: Burns (41’)

Attendance: 1,033 (591 away)