Recap
Rangers, without the suspended duo of Kyle Sambor and Tom Tonks, prepared for the game by stopping over in the North East on Friday evening but it was the home side who made the early running and took the lead after just 2 minutes when Michael Spellman crossed for Boatsman who got in ahead of Mitch Clarke His shot lacked power but looped up and beat the deceived Leon Phillips.
The goal came following a corner which had resulted from a shot from Spellman from the edge of the area which had forced Phillips to go to his left to save.
But Rangers struck back in perfect fashion as Scott Bakkor picked out Jack Birch from the left who cut inside his man before hitting a left footer shot beyond the reach of Peter Jameson with less than 5 minutes on the clock.
Back in the contest, Rangers came within inches of second when Birch’s free kick came off Joe Dunne and the bar. Todd Ferrier headed in for Bakkor but Jameson was there first to smother and end the threat.
Rangers were the more adventurous of the two sides during the opening 20 minutes with Bakkor and Darryhl Mason causing problems for the home defence with Jameson making a save from the latter
But, the Gateshead threat was always there and it needed Andy Burns to block shots from Harry Chapman and Spellman in the space of a minute.
With Tonks suspended, Rangers were unable to deploy the long throw but Joe Dunne was able to cause some problems when he put in Ty Webster but the shot was blocked.
Another chance went when Mason chose to go solo but was off target shooting over with Bakkor well placed but Rangers went in at the break on level terms and knowing that the game was within their grasp.
Half Time: Gateshead 1 Stafford Rangers 1
Gateshead scorer Boatswain had a shot blocked in the early stages of the second half but Rangers were still asking questions at the other end. Mason continued to trouble the home defence and could have had a hat trick on another day. He missed another opportunity with a header over the Gateshead bar following a pin point cross from Bakkor.
Mitch Clarke’s header landed on the roof of the Gateshead net after good play on the right involving Beto Gomes and Ty Webster.
Gateshead keeper Jameson made a double save from Bakkor after the Stafford striker had been played in by Remi Efunnuga’s ball over the back line.
A late attack from the home side ended with Jordy Huwala heading wide and meaning that the two sides had to try again on Tuesday evening.
Full Time: Gateshead 1 Stafford Rangers 1
Gateshead: 12 Peter Jameson, 2 Tom Lavery, 3 David Ferguson, 6 Jack Robinson (Alex Lankshear 77m), 32 Harry Chapman (17 Rocco Coyle 84m), 21 Michael Spellman, 4 Josh Home (8 Sam Bowen 67m), 20 Fenton John, 23 Billy Chadwick (19 Luke Supyk 62m), 29 Freddie Issaka, 14 Ash Boatswain (Jordy Hiwula 77m).
Unused Subs: Logan Douglas, Harrison Holgate
Stafford: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Beto Gomes, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Todd Ferrier, 5 Andy Burns (c), 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Jack Birch, 11 Darrhyl Mason (14 Wealth Da Silva 89m), 12 Ty Webster (16 Joe Thompson 82m), 15 Mitch Clarke, 19 Remi Efunnuga
Unused Subs 6 Anis Zaknoune, 7 Max Chimenes 13 Russell Saunders, 17 Lewis Dilks, 18 Harvey Washington
Referee: Paul Marsden
Cautions: Lavery 78m (Gateshead); Burns 41m (Rangers)
Goals: Gateshead: Boatswain 2m; Stafford: Birch 5m
Att: 1033 (591 Stafford)
Report by Chris Elsley
