GATESHEAD put the skids on Salford’s charge for automatic promotion by coming from behind to earn a creditable 1-1 draw.

Heed striker Scott Boden narrowly avoided putting Salford ahead earlier with an own goal on the quarter-hour, but it did arrive in the 28th minute when keeper Aynsley Pears brought down Matt Green and Danny Lloyd tucked away the penalty.

Robbie Tinkler teed up Boden to equalise just before half-time and it was all square at the break.

That was how it stayed as the visitors weathered extensive pressure in the second half, including five minutes of added time, to take a hard-earned point.

Gateshead manager Ben Clark said: “First half we were really brace on the ball, second half was the total opposite, a real gritty defensive display. Every single one of them was fantastic today.”

Gateshead: Pears; Tinkler, Kerr, Williamson, Mellish, Barrow, White, Hunter, Maloney, Boden Rigg (Salken 82). Subs (not used): Foden, Thomson, Forbes, Devitt.

YORK City new boss Steve Watson is hoping to have “two or three” new faces for next weekend’s home match against National League North leaders Chorley.

The former Gateshead manager’s Minstermen reign started with a 3-1 defeat at title-chasing Stockport County and, one week into the job, he has now identified areas he feels need strengthening in the squad.

Watson will speak to on-loan Harrogate Town midfielder Liam Agnew about his Bootham Crescent future on Monday following the end of his one-month stay and, after the returns of Alex Bray, Kennedy Digie, Joe Davis and Joe Ironside to their parent clubs, there is scope to bolster the ranks with further temporary additions.

Home attacker Matty Warburton hit a hat-trick for Stockport, completing his treble just seconds after Alex Kempster had reduced the deficit on 74 minutes and, following an eighth straight league loss on the road, Watson said: “It’s going to be a work in progress, and I was under no illusions that this wasn’t going to be a very difficult task.

“We’re just starting a long journey, but this season is still open for much more improvement. I need to see more of the players in different scenarios, but also look at the loan window because, if Liam Agnew goes back, we will have five bodies less than we had two weeks ago.

“I pretty much know what I want, but other clubs are obviously involved when you’re looking to get people in place. I am 99 per cent sure, though, that by next Saturday we should see two or three more faces.”

York: Bartlett; Griffiths, Bencherif, Newton, Ferguson; Agnew, Law, Moke (York 57); Wright (Parkin 71), Burrow, Kempster. Subs (not used): Whitley, Tait, Langstaff.