THEY couldn't match the seven goals served up in the first game of the afternoon, but Gateshead and Sunderland had a good go at it.
And just as they did at South Shields in the first of Saturday's pre-season games, the Black Cats fought back from behind to win.
Sunderland were stunned by a quickfire first half double from the National League outfit, but a strong side featuring the likes of Jobe Bellingham, making his first appearance since his move from Birmingham, Patrick Roberts, Dan Ballard and Dan Neil settled and worked their way back into the game.
It was Neil who gave Sunderland something to cling to late in the first half with his smart finish halving the deficit, before substitute Callum Wilson, one of several youngsters introduced in the second half, caught the eye. Wilson teed up the equaliser for Niall Huggins before having a hand in the winner, scored by fellow substitute Michael Spellman.
Having watched Chris Rigg fire a late winner in a 4-3 win over South Shields in the first friendly of the day, boss Tony Mowbray made a quick dash to Gateshead and was in place pitchside - brew in hand - comfortably before kick-off.
Had he not made it in time he'd have missed the early flash of magic from sharp Patrick Roberts, who danced into the box with the ball stuck to his feet despite the attention of several home defenders. He cut it back to Neil, whose shot appeared to be blocked by a Gateshead arm, but the penalty claims were waved away.
Referee David Webb's response was the same when the hosts half-heartedly appealed for a spot-kick after a dozen or so minutes. Former Boro and Sunderland youngster Stephen Wearne worked it into the path of Jordan Hunter, but he was stopped in his tracks by Joe Anderson.
Zak Johnson was the most inexperienced player in Sunderland's starting XI but looked comfortable and at home at the back. And his interception midway inside the Gateshead half almost led to an opening goal, Pritchard picking up the loose ball and firing just wide.
Moments later, the home side were ahead. Connor Pani cut in from the left and had a go from distance, his effort taking a nick off Trai Hume and looping into the far corner beyond the helpless Alex Bass.
If the first goal was slightly fortuitous, there was nothing lucky about the second, though from Sunderland's perspective it should have been avoided. Patrick Roberts' loose pass was pounced on by Adam Campbell, who picked out the top corner from 25 yards.
Sunderland had struggled to stretch or hurt Gateshead's defence but halved the deficit six minutes before the interval. Pritchard darted into the channel and his cut back from the right was coolly slotted home by Neil.
Neil wasn't far away from levelling the score on the stroke of half-time. Again teed up by Pritchard with a looping through ball, the midfielder was caught in two minds but whether it was a cross or a shot, he wasn't far away from finding the far corner.
Gateshead changed personnel and their kit at half-time, emerging in their new away strip for the second half. But it was the away team who were on top after the break.
On the hour mark, Mowbray made changes. And one of the substitutes, Wilson, made an immediate impact helping to tee up Huggins, who slotted home the leveller from close range.
Sunderland had the upper hand. Bellingham found himself with time and space inside the box but his cross was cut-out before Roberts lashed an effort into the side netting.
Mowbray made seven more changes, with Spellman one of the youngsters introduced. And the 20-year-old grabbed the winner. Wilson was again involved. His shot inside the box was blocked and Spellman was on hand to pounce on the loose ball, making no mistake from close range.
Sunderland: Bass (Richardson, 60), Hume (Wilson, 60), Anderson (Bainbridge, 71), Ballard (Fieldson, 60), Johnson (Bell, 78), Huggins (Robertson, 71), Bellingham (Chiabi, 78), Neil (Whittaker, 78), Pritchard (Tutierov, 78) Roberts (Spellman, 71) Bennette (Thompson, 60).
Subs: Burke, Sakete, Jones, Waters
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