Gateshead lost a National League Cup group stage match on penalties after a goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers' under-21 side at the Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday. The visitors won the shootout 4-1 to claim the extra point in the competition's group format.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in normal or extra time. Gateshead's Jack Robinson and Billy Chadwick both tested Wolves goalkeeper Josh Gracey with long-range efforts, while Luke Supyk embarked on a notable solo run from the halfway line around the hour mark. At the other end, Wolves' Xu Bin saw a left-footed effort tipped over the bar.
Gracey was the hero for the young Wolves side, making several important saves to keep his team in the contest. "Josh Gracey generated multiple dazzling saves to keep his side in the closely contested affair," the goalkeeper said after the match.
The shootout saw Enso Gonzalez, Rawlings, Bradbury and D. Angel Enguru Mangue all convert for Wolves. Eguaibor scored Gateshead's only successful penalty, with misses from Coyle and Luke Supyk proving costly.
The result means Gateshead miss out on an extra point in the cup competition. Their focus now shifts entirely to league survival, where they sit 24th in the National League with just four points from 13 games.
Next up is an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at home to Stafford Rangers this Saturday. After that, attention returns to the league with a key home match against 18th-placed Tamworth on 23 October.
