Gateshead 4 Morecambe 4: High-scoring strugglers cannot be separated
Morecambe were forced to share the spoils with Gateshead after an eight-goal thriller at the International Stadium on Wednesday.
Chris Popov netted a hat-trick as the Shrimps scored four for the second game in succession, but was let down by some poor defending as Billy Chadwick also scored three times for the home side.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley made one change to the side that beat Eastleigh on Saturday with Liam Hogan coming in for Timmi Akindileni.
He soon saw his side fall a goal behind as Gateshead struck in the third minute.
Mark Beck headed back into the area and Keaton Ward was well placed to drill the loose ball past Jamal Blackman.
The Shrimps hit back in convincing fashion with Popov equalising on 17 minutes, heading Lewis Payne’s cross past Pete Jameson from six yards.
Popov then turned provider on 27 minutes, when he found Jack Nolan free inside the Gateshead box to head beyond Jameson.
Nolan repaid the favour on 44 minutes, crossing to the far post for the unmarked Popov to score from close range.
Gateshead responded in the fourth minute of injury time as they were awarded a penalty for handball and Chadwick convincingly beat Blackman from the spot.
They were handed a second penalty on 51 minutes, when Paul Lewis was adjudged to have fouled inside the area, and Chadwick sent Blackman the wrong way.
Three minutes later, the Shrimps were back in front as Popov finished from a tight angle after taking the ball past home keeper Jameson.
However, they conceded again on 74 minutes as Miguel Azeez gave the ball away cheaply and Chadwick beat the flat-footed Blackman with a cross that curled into the net.
Popov came within inches of giving Morecambe a dramatic late win though, with a close-range header that flew inches over as they had to settle for a point.
Gateshead: Jameson, Ward, Richardson, Nicholson, Radcliffe, Bowen, Butterfield (Anifowose 45), Chadwick (Telford 88), Chapman (Amantchi 45), Grayson (John 45), Beck (Boatswain 44). Subs not used: Ferguson, Home.
Morecambe: Blackman, Payne, Dean, Hogan, Edwards (Williams 83), Azeez, Jameson, Lewis (Thomas 83), Songo’o (Sangare 83), Nolan (Tollitt 77), Popov. Unused subs: Boney, Akindileni, Ogwuru.
Referee: Gareth Thomas.