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Tuesday 8th January - Frickley Athletic 1-1 Gateshead

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The Blues were forced to settle for a point in a rather uninspiring game against fellow strugglers Gateshead despite Leroy Chambers heading the Blues ahead as early as the 7th minute. However, shortly afterwards the Blues lost Matt Daly through injury with Wael Nazha also being forced off through injury after 35 minutes. Gateshead scored their equaliser through Paul Thompson just as the game entered second half stoppage time.

The Blues started the game in positive fashion and, after going close through Andy Evans after just two minutes, forced a couple of corners. From the second of these Neil Ashley swung the ball in for LEROY CHAMBERS to head in from close range after just 7 minutes. However, the Blues suffered a set-back just 4 minutes later when Matt Daly was forced off with a calf injury and was replaced by Dean Foley. Gateshead were rarely threatening, although the Blues' attacks were also dwindling. The Blues suffered another set-back on 35 minutes when Wael Nazha was replaced by Luke Smith after suffering a back injury. 

The second half started much more even, although on 59 minutes Ashley's deep free-kick fell to Evans but his angled snap-shot flew past the far post with Keith Finch rooted to the spot. Gateshead were starting to put the Blues' defence under more pressure, although they were rarely managing to trouble Gary Ingham. They did create a good chance on 70 minutes when a deep free kick from Mark Atkinson found Steve Richardson unmarked at the far post but Steve kennedy reacted quickly to block the angled shot from 6 yards. The Blues responded with a quick break down the right by Chambers who crossed to Collins who, with his back to goal truned well on the edge of the box but shot straight at Finch. Minutes later Paul Buzzeo missed a great chance to equalise when he headed wide when unmarked following a corner but, as the game entered stoppage time a cross from the Gateshead right was volleyed in from the edge of the box by Paul Thompson to earn the visitors a deserved point.