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Saturday 19 January - Frickley Athletic 3-4 Gateshead

Having looked like getting off the bottom of the Unibond Premier Division at half-time, Frickley saw Gateshead turn the tables with four goals in 14 minutes towards the climax of a controversial encounter which had the Blues reduced to nine men.

Referee Rob Atkin was a nightmare of inconsistency, although the home side didn't help themselves with this continual confrontational manner, which led to skipper Steve Robinson getting his marching orders, and thoughtlessness, which saw Chris White and Lee Morris both booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown.

Rob Pell was unfortunate to be dismissed, Jonathan Groome deserved his booking and Scott Turner was unlucky, but the culmination of red and yellow cards could result in the South Elmsall side receiving a heavy fine from the FA.

There was a superb start for Frickley, Danny Walsh threading a pass through in the fourth minute and Lee Morris beating Paul Musselwhite to the ball and slotting it into an empty goal.

Before Gateshead could recover, Walsh found Morris with another penetrating pass three minutes later and he pulled the ball back low for Rob Pell to tap in from six yards.

The visitors were rattled and both David Southern and Phillip Cave snatched at free-kicks and put them wide of the target.

An off-the-ball incident in the 40th minute saw Paul Thompson collapse under a challenge by Pell and, despite being at least 40 yards away, referee Atkin produced a red.

Thompson was booked two minutes later for a foul on Morris while Cave, already on a yellow, escaped without a warning after he felled Morris in stoppage time.

The visitors were made to pay as Walsh lobbed the free-kick over the wall to Chris White who put in a low cross which Chris Hilton guided into the net.

Gateshead resumed after the interval in a 3-1-6 formation, causing Adam Nickllin to grasp efforts from Kristopher Gate, Jamie Harwood and Graeme Armstrong.

The Blues cover was holding up well but it decided to stand off the opposing attack, which led to Jamie Harwood heading in a free-kick from James McGlen after 74 minutes.

Two minutes later, Steven Bowey beat Nicklin with a low shot, and Graeme Armstrong put Gateshead on terms with a 20 yard drive.

A rare Blues raid in the 80th minute led to Neil Towler putting Chris White clear and he rounded the keeper but had his shot diverted behind.

The decider came in the 88th minute when a Gateshead raid down the right appeared to see the ball go behind the goalline before being crossed and headed in at the far post by David Southern.

Robinson, who had questioned several decisions by the referee, protested strongly and Mr Atkin ordered him from the pitch.  

Report by Peter Jordan