Gateshead Leam Rangers were the visitors to Bishopton Road West on a cold overcast day. Stockton had both Chris Stockton and Kallum Hannah unavailable due to suspension so that gave an opportunity for Under 18 forward Macaulay Langstaff who had been in impressive form in recent weeks. Macaulay started as one of a front three alongside Tony Johnson and Matty Garbutt. Gateshead set up to not concede early and on a number of occasions had the Stockton defence stretched. Stockton were enjoying a lot of the ball but creating very little until late in the half. The Gateshead keeper had made a couple of smart saves from Tony Johnson and Adam Nicholson had a header from a corner ruled out for a foul, before David Dowd beat his man down the right side, crossed into the front post area where Tony Johnson turned the ball home on 44 minutes. The second half was now all Stockton with relentless pressure on the Gateshead goal and Tony Johnson grabbed his second of the game on 57 minutes with a smart finish. Macaulay Langstaff was enjoying a fine debut and his running off the ball was pulling Gatesheads defence all over the place, creating space for his fellow players. Scott Meehan enjoyed his first 90 minutes for many months following his injury and Stockton ran out deserved winners.