Walsall produced a display full of grit and endeavour as they avoided an FA Cup upset with a 2-0 win at National League strugglers Gateshead.
The League Two leaders wasted two golden opportunities to give themselves an early lead in the North East as Jamille Matt and Aden Flint both sent efforts off target inside the opening 15 minutes.
However, those chances proved to be temporary reprieves for their National League hosts as a Daniel Kanu penalty put the Saddlers into a deserved lead midway through the half, after Ryan Finnigan had been brought down by Gateshead captain Kenton Richardson.
That lead was doubled inside the opening three minutes of the second half when veteran defender Flint diverted an Evan Weir free-kick beyond home goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks.
With the heavy rain still battering the International Stadium pitch, it was the higher-ranked side that always seemed more likely to grab the third goal of the game as their non-league hosts laboured in front of the home faithful.
Saddlers substitute Jamie Jellis and Albert Adomah both let opportunities pass them by within five minutes of their arrival – but it mattered little as Mat Sadler’s side had already done the hard work and can now look forward to Monday’s third-round draw.
