Gateshead 0 (1) Wolves 0 (4)
Wolves under-21s battled to a win away at Gateshead after a penalty shootout in The National League Cup.
Josh Gracey generated multiple dazzling saves to keep his side in the closely contested affair at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Enso Gonzalez was the first to challenge Pete Jameson just 11 minutes in, as his curling free-kick from 25-yards out was clawed out by the Gateshead goalkeeper.
It was an end-to-end next 15 minutes, with both sides having spells of possession but unable to create anymore notable chances,
Gracey produced a fantastic save around the 25-minute mark, as a Billy Chadwick effort from just outside the box was deflected and required an impressive stop.
Just minutes before the end of the half Gracey produced another stop, as centre-back Jack Robinson took a strike from some distance to challenge the shot-stopper.
The first 45 minutes ended goalless as the two teams headed in for half-time, as the travelling Old Gold were still searching for a goal to break the deadlock.
Half time | Gateshead 0-0 Wolves
Gracey pulled out another sublime stop on the 60th minute mark, as Luke Supyk’s solo run from the half-way line resulted in a shot from the edge of the box forcing the Wolves goalkeeper into a save at his near post.
In the 77th minute, Xu Bin had his left-footed effort tipped over the bar by Jameson as Wolves headed into the last 15 minutes of the match in search of finding a goal to put them in the lead.
Gonzalez found himself in the centre of the box with room to shoot but his side-footed strike was palmed out for a corner by the Gateshead goalkeeper.
Neither side could break the deadlock, with the game ending in a penalty shoot-out to decide the extra point.
Gonzalez, Luke Rawlings, Makenzie Bradburty and Dani Angel al plundered perfect spot-kicks, while Gracey made two key saves as Wolves secured the extra point in the group.
Full time | Gateshead 0-0 Wolves
Gateshead | Jameson (GK), Lavery, Home (Bowen 46), Robinson, Anifwose, Boatswain (Eguaibor 64), Coyle, Supyk, Chadwick (Bone 72), Holgate (Williams 78), Chapman (Issaka 64)
Unused subs | Leech (GK), Hiwula,
Wolves | Gracey (GK), Okoduwa, Dayman, White, Ojinnaka (Lochhead 46), Bradbury, Gonzalez, Rawlings, Ballard-Matthews (Angel 46), Ji (Anunlopo 90), Edozie (Xu Bin 67)
Unused subs | Arnold, O’Donnell. Ashworth
Report by Alfie Venencia
