Gateshead 2-3 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland AFC’s second pre-season outing of Saturday afternoon ended in a 3-2 win against Gateshead.
Conor Pani’s deflected effort opened the scoring at the Gateshead International Stadium, with an impressive strike from Adam Campbell doubling the advantage three minutes later.
Dan Neil reduced the deficit before the break and Niall Huggins levelled, as two well-worked team goals restored parity ahead of the final stages.
The moment that mattered arrived nine minutes from time, with Michael Spellman converting after Callum Wilson was denied to seal back-to-back wins.
Following an enthralling outing at South Shields earlier in the day, Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff touched down on Tyneside for round two.
The encounter started with a trademark nutmeg, as Patrick Roberts danced through the Gateshead defence before Jewison Bennette’s effort was blocked from point-blank range.
With 20 minutes on the clock, the home side led after Pani’s effort deflected off Trai Hume and looped beyond Alex Bass.
Gateshead doubled their lead three minutes later, as a loose pass allowed Campbell to take aim from 30 yards and he unforgivingly picked out the top corner.
A free-flowing move involving Alex Pritchard and Roberts reduced the arrears before the break, with Neil applying a composed finish beyond former academy prospect Harrison Bond.
Bennette threatened again following the restart and was denied one-on-one, with a host of changes after the 60-minute mark preceding an equaliser.
Persistent play from Roberts engineered the opening, which was converted by Huggins after youngster Wilson supplied the assist just moments after coming on.
The youngster also played a part in the winning goal, with the 19-year-old’s initial effort forcing a save that dropped kindly for Spellman to convert.
Following back-to-back wins to start pre-season, the Lads will now travel to the United States for their pre-season tour of North America.
Sunderland AFC: Bass (Richardson 63), Hume (Fieldson 63), Johnson (Whittaker 78), Ballard (Wilson 63), Anderson (Spellman 73), Huggins (Bainbridge 73), Neil (Bell 78), Jobe (Chiabi 78), Roberts (Robertson 73), Pritchard (Tutierov 78), Bennette (Thompson 63).