Gateshead manager Ian Bogie was pleased with his squad's first work out of the season and is looking for further progression at Workington tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.

Bogie saw his side go down to a late goal in a 3-2 pre-season friendly defeat against a strong Middlesbrough outfit at Hurworth.

The Teesiders paraded a host of first team stars but Gateshead gave as good as they got in an entertaining 90 minutes.

Bogie told north-ast sports writer Jeff Bowron: “It was a really good work out and I am very pleased. We scored two goals and should have had more as we created some good openings.

"It was a good gesture by Middlesbrough to host the game and they paid us the compliment of naming a strong squad of proven quality.

"The score was pretty irrelevant as it was our first warm up game and the chance to get our eye in and get the range of passing right.

"It is always disappointing to lose any game, including friendlies, and but for a late goal we would have got a deserved draw but I was more concerned with the quality of the performance.

"We were able to give a run out to 23 players and it was an opportunity for the new boys to show their worth and the trialists to impress.

"Ben Clark was a class act at the back. He has a lot of experience and will prove to be a very good acquisition.

"James Marwood is something different, David Brown did well at left back and Jonny Allan showed flashes that shows he is a good player.

"Others also did well while some players have more in their locker, but for a first work out there were plenty of plusses.

"It is a short turn around before we travel to Workington on Saturday where the trialists will be given another opportunity to stake a claim.

"Workington reached the Conference North play-offs last season and will provide a different type of test to Middlesbrough."

Summer signing Jon Shaw will receive further treatment on a calf strain and midfielder Phil Turnbull on a groin injury.

Both did light training before the behind-closed-doors friendly against Middlesbrough but James Curtis will sit out the trip to Cumbria.

"We'll have to wait and see about Shaw and Turnbull but Curtis definitely won't play at Workington as he has a foot injury.

"Other than that everyone who featured against Middlesbrough will travel and I am looking for another good performance."

There will also be a new face on the Gateshead bench as Hartlepool United's Director of Youth Development for the past five years, Terry Mitchell, has been appointed as Bogie’s new assistant manager and first team coach.

Mitchell, 49 on Saturday week, replaces Adam Sadler who was appointed during the summer but left after just one training session to take up a coaching post at Plymouth Argyle.

Tynesider Mitchell was a successful manager/coach at Newcastle Blue Star and West Allotment Celtic before he moved into the professional game with Hartlepool.

Mitchell took Blue Star to fifth in the Northern League first division with a young side and then won the Northern Alliance twice at West Allotment.

Following promotion he took Allotment to the League and Cup double in his first season in the Northern League second division before joining Hartlepool.

In his first year at Pools he assisted Paul Stephenson with the running of the first team for 16 games following the dismissal of manager Martin Scott.

"I have had a great time at Hartlepool but I jumped at the chance to get back into senior coaching at Gateshead," said Mitchell.

"They are a progressive club and while many clubs are struggling Gateshead are moving in the right direction.

"I have missed the involvement of management and coaching at a senior level, and the buzz you get on a Saturday night from a good performance and three points.

"I will be very hands on at Gateshead and am looking forward to putting across my ideas and helping to take the club forward."

While at West Allotment Mitchell worked on a part-time basis at the Newcastle United Academy and he was also responsible for putting Gateshead manager Ian Bogie through his coaching badges.

"I already know a number of players at Gateshead through my time at Newcastle and Hartlepool and I can't wait to get started," added Mitchell.

Bogie is delighted to get Mitchell on board after Sadler's out of the blue move to Plymouth and thanked Hartlepool United for their co-operation.

"Terry Mitchell is a very good coach and I am sure he will do a very good job as my number two," said Bogie.

"We had to move quickly after Adam Sadler's departure. I'm delighted to get Terry in at such short notice and thank Hartlepool for not standing in his way.

"As a new full-time club we have only just completed our first week in training and Terry will be on the coach to Workington tomorrow and on the training ground on Monday."

Workington Reds will still be without striker Gareth Arnison who is on holiday and missed Thursday’s opening 1-0 win at Gretna.

Aaran Taylor will continue in goal as it;’s now looking more and more likely that Tony Caig will be moving to Carlisle United on a full-time basis.

---

Bookmark with: what are these?