Gateshead Reserves 1-1 Hull City Reserves

Gateshead reserves picked up their first totesport.com Central League point following a 1-1 draw against a youthful Hull City outfit on Wednesday.

Inspired by Brian Wake, the oldest player on the pitch at 28, Paul Bryson's side lay siege to the Hull goal early on.

Alex Francis side-footed inches wide from 20 yards while Mark Cook prevented David Brown from heading a Jamie Devitt cross into his own net at the other end.

Another Fancis shot brought a full length save from Mark Oxley with Steven Baptist's follow up blocked by Steven Gardner.

The lively Wake then outmuscled Danny Wilkinson inside the box to blast a shot that Oxley blocked with his arms.

Andy Ferrell shot over from 22 yards before Wake struck a stinging first time volley inches wide from Craig Baxter's cross.

It had been all Gateshead but they were hit by a sucker punch when Hull scored from their first corner and serious attack.

Cook's punch from Dan Emerton's corner lacked distance and Ray Ford drove home.

Wake then set up a great chance for Josh Gillies who drove wastefully over before a foul on Ferrell brought a 37th minute equaliser.

Gillies free kick saw centre back Matty Scott power a header into the corner of the net, Oxley then holding on to Briggs' looping header.

There were fewer chances after the break, Gateshead replacing young professionals Francis and Gillies with College players.

Ford put a free header over the bar from Gardner's cross as the Tigers went on to dominate possession without terrorising the home defence.

The game had become a midfield battle as Gateshead finished with no fewer than six college players on the pitch.

One of them, Briggs, had an 84th minute shot deflected for a corner which saw Ferrell's flag kick sail across the six yard box untouched.

A plucky Gateshead then almost won it when Briggs released Wakefield whose shot hit the advancing Oxley with Wilkinson clearing just before the ball crossed the line.

Emerton had the same opportunity as Hull countered but Cook came out on top in the one-to-one.

City defender Sonny Bradley was then sent off in the last minute for a second yellow after a trip on Baptist as the spoils were shared.

Gillies picked up an ankle injury and Francis a dead leg in the second half and it remains to be seen if either or both are available for selection for the visit of altrincham in the Conference on Saturday.

Gateshead Reserves: Cook, Baxter, Brown, Francis (Evans 68), Scott, Gilbert, Briggs, Ferrell, Wake, Gillies (Wakefield 51), Baptist. Subs (not used): Dawson, Soulsby.

Hull City Reserves: Oxley, Gardner, Deagle (Townsend 71), Holihan (Cooper 76), Wilkinson, Bradley, Emerton, Ford (McCaffrey 81), Featherstone, Atkinson, Devitt. Subs (not used): Ward (gk).

Referee: Steve Smith (Darlington)

Att: 145