Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead were held to a 1-1 draw at Hednesford Town in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying.

The Heed were ahead for five minutes through Tyrelle Newton before Rob Stevenson levelled for the hosts, setting up a replay at Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.

Ben Clark made five changes following his side’s midweek defeat at Tamworth, with Robbie Tinkler and Dan Jones forced to miss out through injury and ineligibility respectively.

The hosts made a bright start with the 2,669-strong crowd pushing them on at Keys Park, seeing Dan Trickett-Smith test Harry Moss early on with a looping header that the goalkeeper tipped over his crossbar.

Gateshead gained control of possession after a to-and-fro start to affairs, and Owen Oseni threatened twice when he connected with Regan Booty’s lofted ball to be denied by Jack Rose before later sending a deflected shot onto the roof of the net.

Trickett-Smith fired wide for Hednesford at the other end after Moss had conceded possession on the edge of the box, just before Oseni came inches from open the scoring when he headed Booty’s cross wide at the far post.

Joel Taylor went close for The Pitmen just before the 40-minute mark when he was thwarted by Moss one-on-one, with Kain Adom seeing a shot of his own saved by Rose on the stroke of half time.

It took until the 64^th minute for the game to spark into life when Newton put Gateshead in front, latching onto Oseni’s touch into the box before prodding past Rose from close range to net his second Heed goal.

That lead lasted just five minutes however, as Stevenson levelled for the hosts after fortuitously connecting with a stray shot in the box before slotting past Moss.

Stevenson would later see a shot blocked for a corner – as would substitute Tom Allan in injury time – as both sides looked for a late winner, with Josh Home also sending 25-yard  half-volley past Rose’s left-hand post in what proved to be the game’s final chance.

Gateshead: Moss, Hannant, Radcliffe, Haunstrup (Belehouan, 70’), Adom (Allan, 72’), Newton, Booty, Whelan, Worman (Home, 90’), Butterfield (Colkett, 81’), Oseni (Malcolm, 72’).

Substitutes: Basey, Carr.

Goals: Newton (64’)

Yellow Cards: Malcolm (77’) 

Hednesford Town: Rose, Roberts, Sparkes (McHale, 61’), Johnson, Endall, Maye, Bearne, Spence (Duku, 72’), Stevenson, Trickett-Smith (Holness, 90’), Taylor.

Substitutes: Sutherland, Brown, Alamu-Tajudeen, Gwilt, Holness.

Goals: Stevenson (69’)

Attendance: 2,669