A 93rd minute leveller from Cole Stockton saw Wrexham keep their unbeaten run under Bryan Hughes alive at Gateshead.
It looked like being one long away trip too many for the Dragons as they trailed to Steven Rigg’s first half effort.
However Stockton’s late intervention, at the second time of asking after his initial effort cannoned off the base of the post, rescured a share of the spoils that looked like ebbing away from the Dragons, who completed a week in which they have travelled more than 1,200 miles with seven points from a possible nine to remain top of the table.
Hughes made just the one change to the starting XI that extended the Dragons winning run to four in midweek, goalkeeper Rob Lainton, who had kept 18 National League clean sheets so far, forced to miss the out with a shoulder injury.
In came Christian Dibble for his first league start of the season with new signing Luke Simpson taking his place on the bench.
Gateshead made much the better start and perhaps could have taken the lead inside the opening five minutes but for a well timed block from James Jennings to deny Robbie Tinkler a sight of goal, before Scott Barrow fired into the side netting as he reached Tinkler’s cross.
A Brad Walker mistake allowed Connor Thomson a run on the Wrexham goal, his effort missing at the far post before Wrexham managed to gain any kind of foothold in the match.
A short corner routine and a mistake by Steven Rigg saw Luke Young and Ben Tollitt get in each other’s way as a chance opened up, before Jason Oswell headed tamelessly wide and a Paul Rutherford cross was sliced over the top by Mike Williamson as the Dragons enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure.
Wrexham though failed to build on their pressure and fell behind on 40 minutes to a ninth goal of the season from Steve Rigg, the striker playing a one-two with Greg Olley to find himself clean through on Dibble, the goalkeeper doing well to block the initial shot but not Rigg’s follow up.
The second half was in danger of passing by as a compelte non-entity as both sides failed to make any kind of in roads, indeed it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that either side created any chances of note, Paul Rutherford reaching Jennings’ throughball, but guilty of lifting an effort over the bar, before Walker hammered over the top from close range as Jake Lawlor headed Young’s corner back into the six yard box.
Hughes had clearly seen enough as he made a doubel substitution with more than 10 minutes remaining, sending on Chris Holroyd and Cole Stockton in place of Tollitt and Carrington, the manager finishing the game with three strikers on the pitch.
Walker let fly with an attempt that had Aynsley Pears struggling, the midfielder’s shot just missing the far post, while Oswell had a glorious chance inside the final five minutes, the striker denied just as he was about to shoot by a brilliant last ditch tackle from Tinkler.
Read More
The latest on Wrexham AFC
Holroyd saw a powerful effort deflect wide for a corner by Fraser Kerr deep in injury time before Stockton bundled the ball home at the second time of asking, his first effort hitting the base of the post to ensure an unlikely share of the spoils.
GATESHEAD (3-5-2): Pears; Kerr, Williamson, Mellish; Tinkler, White, Olley (Hunter 80), Forbes, Barrow; Rigg, Thomson (Salkeld 84).
SUBS: Foden, Maloney, Devitt.
Booked: White.
WREXHAM (4-2-3-1): Dibble; Carrington (Stockton 78), Lawlor, Pearson, Jennings; Walker, Young; Rutherford, Wright (Deverdics 69), Tollitt (Holroyd 78); Oswell.
SUBS: Simpson, Tharme.
Booked: Wright,
REFEREE: Paul Howard.
ATT: 1,228 (525 - away).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Luke Young - A busy shwoing from the midfielder.
