Reds '˜live to fight another day' in FA Cup qualifying tie with Gateshead

Alfreton Town v Gateshead, Paul Clayton celebrates his goal

Alfreton Town were held by National League side Gateshead at the Impact Arena in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

Saturday’s tie ended 2-2 and will be replayed on Wednesday night, meaning the Reds will be in the hat for Monday’s draw.

Assistant manager Russ O’Neill said: “We fight another day. We’re still in the hat. We go there and will give a good account of ourselves with no reason not to win again. We’re ever so frustrated, we should be in the next round to be honest.”

Paul Clayton and Craig Westcarr had built up a 2-0 lead for the Reds with just 14 minutes of the tie remaining, but two goals from Alfreton’s top scorer last season Sam Jones had the visitors level by the 81st minute.

“It was a disappointing end to the game,” said O’Neill. “We should have gone on and seen it out. The first goal is naive, we’ve just gone two up and we’ve squeezed up when we didn’t need to and that’s lifted them.

“In all honesty you can dissect the second goal all you want - we know what Jones is about - good strikers do that to you. One touch and he’s put it in the top corner.”

The team-sheet saw the return of Cecil Nyoni, Andy Monkhouse, Ryan Wilson and Adam Priestley to the Reds’ starting line-up, a promising start seeing Adam Smith’s angled drive held by keeper Dan Hanford before 30 seconds had elapsed.

Clayton then saw his third minute header held by Hanford after Brad McGowan had nodded Smith’s free-kick back across the six-yard box, but Reds’ custodian Fabian Spiess was soon having to field good efforts from Wes York and Nyal Bell.

Priestley almost latched on to a wayward back header from Jamal Fyfield on 19 minutes, but Liam Hogan was able to intervene, Alfreton though able to take advantage of another defensive blunder five minutes later to open the scoring.

Monkhouse delivered a cross from the left that Hanford fumbled as he collided with one of his own defenders, Priestley hammered the loose ball that was partially cleared off the line by Manny Smith and Clayton pounced from close range to score.

Four minutes before half-time the Alfreton contingent were incensed when Clayton went down under a strong challenge from Smith, but referee Stephen Ross waved aside their penalty pleas.