Match Report
By Colin Hill at the Gateshead International Stadium
Southport will be thankful that they went away from the International Stadium with a 1-1 draw, as Tony McMillan got sent off, reducing his team down to ten players.
Gateshead started the sharper team, putting Southport under early pressure. Liam Watson had to change his tactics early on when John Doolan had to come off injured (hamstring), being replaced by Robbie Booth.
The game stagnated for a long while, but exploded into action on the half hour as Jamie Harwood knocked the ball down the right wing to Lee Novak, who slammed his shot into the side netting. But Southport went straight down the other end and scored as a long ball up from Chris Lever was well read by Ciaran Kilheeney, who beat the advancing Musselwhite to the ball, then calmly played the ball around the keeper before knocking the ball home, despite the efforts of Craig Baxter who tried to guard the goal.
Mark Duffy, playing down the left channel, did well as half time loomed as he worked himself into the centre of the box, firing a low shot which Musselwhite read well, getting down to smother the ball.
Southport started strongly in the second half, with Michael Powell heading over from a left wing Tony Gray cross, and Kevin Lee putting in a dangerous ball from the right wing moments later, only to clear the heads of the Port strikers.
Gateshead struggled to get going, with their only chance falling to Kris Gate who tried a volley from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed over the bar.
Alan Moogan tried his luck from a 25 yard free-kick as Southport looked to extend their lead, but the game made a dramatic turn when, down at the other end, Tony McMillan ran out of his area as a long ball Jamie Harwood flicked the ball over the defence for Lee Novak, but as the Southport keeper came out of his box, handling the ball under pressure, withe the referee producing the red card, sending Adam Flynn into goal.
Gateshead changed their attack to a more attack minded formation, with the result getting the home side back on level terms as a ball into the box went through to Graeme Armstrong who knocked the ball low, which went through the legs of the deputant keeper. Prior to that, Flynn had done well to push a couple of chances away from David Southern.
Southport packed the defence, and created some late chances of their own, as the sole striker, Steve Daly creating a chance, but his effort came to nothing.
Photos from Colin Hill - Taken three miles away in the press box!
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