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After conceding nine goals in the last two games Steve Richards brought in new goalkeeper Martin Kearney from Doncaster Rovers and reverted to a flat back four of Steve Price, Matthew Wilkinson, Dean Jones and Chris Gowan. Carl Fothergill came onto the right wing with Graham Lewis on the left, leaving Curtis Bernard and Sanisa Savic up front.

The changes paid off as the Blues earned a point and were unlucky not to take all three. The downside, however, was the loss of Savic, Bernard and Luke Smith with injuries with the latter two being stretchered off during the second period.

The Blues had an early chance to take the lead when Simon Collins sent a dangerous ball in from the left but Gateshead's Jones managed to clear the danger before Bernard could get a touch. The home side countered with Kearney claiming a cross well under pressure from Preen but on 17 minutes the Blues had Gateshead rocking. Collins sent over a free-kick from the left which reached Savic. He turned and shot from 12 yards but his effort was blocked with the rebound falling to Lewis on the edge of the box but his follow-up shot was also blocked. A few minutes later Lewis got clear down the left before cutting the ball into the box but again Jones cleared the danger for the home side. On 28 minutes Savic's persistence almost brought the breakthrough as he chased a back pass to the keeper and managed to half block the clearance. Bernard picked up the loose ball on the right of the box and advanced towards goal, evading a lunge from behind before squaring across goal towards Savic but Gateshead managed to clear their lines. However, Savic paid for his efforts as he was forced off through injury with Gary Duffty taking his place in attack. Ten minutes before the break the Blues created their best chance of the game as Bernard found himself in space on the right and sent over a great cross which Collins met at full stretch with a powerful header which went agonisingly wide of the far post. The home side then had one of their best chances with Agnew sending Preen clear on the right of the box but Keaney got down well to save at the near post. Then, on the stroke of half time, Kearney was again called on to deny Preen.

The second half saw Gateshead's Ross almost catch Kearney out with a curling cross from the right which almost crept into the top corner but Kearney recovered to tip over the bar for a corner whilst at the other end Bernard teed up Rob Hanby on the edge of the box but his low 20 yard shot went inches wide of the left hand upright with 'keeper Swan beaten. Duffty then fed Lewis down the left and he almost caught Swan out of position as he tried a shot from an acute angle which Swan managed to push round the post. Gateshead responded on the hour with Preen heading over from 8 yards whilst at the other end Collins put a 25 yard free-kick over the bar. On 72 minutes Collins played a good ball up to Duffty on half way. He in turn released Lewis down the left who sent over a dangerous cross which Swan did well to get to before Bernard. Unfortunately, Bernard injured himself going for the cross and was carried off to be replaced by Luke Smith. Within a couple of minutes Duffty teed up Collins on the edge of the box but his shot grazed the crossbar. The home side then made a double substitution and pushed more players forward as they looked to snatch a winner. This saw the Blues drop deeper and deeper but the defence coped admirably with the Gateshead pressure, just allowing Preen a chance five minutes into stoppage time when Dean Jones blocked his first shot but the ball fell kindly back to him and he shot straight at Kearney.

Frickley Athletic : Kearney, Matt. Wilkinson, Gowan, Collins, Jones, Hanby, Lewis, Price, Bernard (Smith 73 (Foot 88)), Savic (Duffty 30), Fothergill

Attendance : 259