Stockton Town secured their place in the Durham Challenge Cup Second Round with victory over Gateshead at a rain-soaked MAP Group UK Stadium.
Stephen Thompson gave the Anchors an early lead, but they were pegged back in the first half by Sam Payne.
In the second half, a first senior goal for Jacob Watson and a sealer from Jake Petitjean wrapped up the win.
Michael Dunwell made four changes to the side which lost to Emley. Aaron Brown and Watson came into defence with the latter moving into central defence to take the place of Adam Nicholson who was rested.
Gateshead named a youthful Starting XI with their first team on the road in an FA Cup replay at Stafford Rangers.
Stockton Town made the perfect start to the game when Thompson controlled the ball in the box and worked his feet before he rifled into the top corner for the opener.
Thompson went for another long-range effort but Preston Leech was equal to the strike.
Michael Dunwell was forced into an early change when Aaron Brown was forced off with a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Ryan Barrett.
As the first half wore on, Gateshead grew into the game and had forced Nathan Harker into a few saves.
They got back on level terms when Luke Supyk’s low strike was parried out by Harker straight into the path of Payne who tucked in the rebound.
Gateshead pushed to go into the break ahead but Harker kept out a strike from Josh Anifowese.
Half-Time: Stockton Town 1-1 Gateshead
Stockton Town began the second half on the front foot. Josh Scott was moved out wide and he began to create chances. First he powered a strike wide, and then he fed a wonderful delivery into the path of Young but the U18 forward was unable to connect with the ball.
Petitjean then had a half-volley which just sailed over the bar and Thompson had a free-kick which just cleared the crossbar.
The Anchors regained the lead when Petitjean’s free-kick was parried by Leech straight to Watson who fired home for his first Stockton Town goal.
Despite a quieter half, Gateshead still provided a threat and they came a whisker wide when former Anchors loanee Callum Bone had a low strike which just missed.
But Stockton had breathing space when Petitjean picked up the ball in a central position and he unleashed a low strike into the corner to extend the lead.
Despite falling further behind, a youthful Gateshead outfit pushed to the last and they were only denied the chance to make it closer through an excellent goal-line block from Owen Gallacher.
Full-Time: Stockton Town 3-1 Gateshead
The Anchors will now face a trip to Easington Colliery in the Second Round. There’s now a break until the league season resumes with a trip to Whitby Town at the end of the month.
