After two consecutive defeats the Blues bounced back with a hard fought victory over Gateshead knowing that Colwyn Bay had already lost at Marine and that a win would put them seven points in front, although the Bay still have five games in hand. The Blues were without Graham Lewis who has been recalled again by Northwich Victoria following a transfer by one of their forwards to Hull City last week which had left them short of options up front. Ian Edge was also unavailable but Mark Ogley was fit to return to the defence.

The Blues started the game well with Gary Duffty having the ball in the net after just 3 minutes but the Assistant Referee already had his flag raised for offside. On 11 minutes Rob Hanby volleyed narrowly over the bar from around the penalty spot after a game of pin-ball had ensued in the Gateshead box and four minutes later Duane Beckett sent Leroy Chambers away down the right. He cut the ball across the box towards Duffty but a defender managed to block it for a corner. From the flag kick Dean Jones sent a powerful header inches over the bar. Gateshead finally showed at the other end on 18 minutes when Lee Fitzgerald hit an angled shot just wide from 12 yards after Mark Ogley had denied Wayne Edgcumbe with a fine last ditch tackle. Two minutes later Andy Wright went close for the visitors when he glanced a header wide of the far post following Paul Talbot's left wing cross but the Blues soon regained command despite being constantly frustrated by the visitor's offside trap. Mark Tyrell powered a header just over the bar from Steve Price's right wing cross on 27 minutes and shortly afterwards Chambers and Duffty exchanged passes in midfield for Duffty to break clear down the right. His deflected cross found the head of Chambers but his close range effort was straight at Adrian Swan. Beckett's right wing corner was then kicked off the line before the Blues looked to be given a golden opportunity to take the lead on the stroke of half time. Chambers flicked the ball into the path of Chris Hilton who broke into the box and attempted to go round Swan but appeared to push the ball too far and then went down as he passed the keeper. The referee surprisingly pointed to the spot but Swan dived to his left to save Chris Hurst's low spot-kick and concede a corner. From this the ball came out to Tyrell on the edge of the box who fired in an 18 yard shot which deflected against the outside of the left hand post.

Just three minutes into the second half and the Blues did manage to take the lead. After forcing a couple of corners Beckett's corner from the left was flicked on and HURST headed it over the line. On 53 minutes Hurst again went close but his header from a free-kick went wide of the target. The game then saw chances dry up but the visitors slowly pulled themselves back into the game. The Blues had a let off on 71 minutes when Mark Wilkinson spilled a cross with the ball; being played forward to Edgcumbe who fired into an empty net but, thankfully, he was in an offside position and the goal was ruled out. Two minutes later Wilkinson was forced to save a 20 yards hot by McAlindon before Gateshead substitute Phil Ross was carried off on 81 minutes following a challenge by Rob Hanby. This meant that the visitors, who had already used all three subs , were forced to play out the rest of the game with ten men. On 84 minutes, Wilkinson was again called into action when he pulled off a brilliant one-handed diving save to deny Preen's overhead kick. The blues managed to weather the storm and pushed forward again towards the end with Swan being forced to palm a cross by Beckett off the head of Chambers and then on 90 minutes Chambers robbed a defender 30 yards out. The ball fell to Beckett who ran at the defence before shooting from 20 yards but his shot got a deflection which wrong-footed Swan but went out for a corner. Then, deep into stoppage time Jones clipped the top of the bar with a curling 20 yard free-kick after a hand ball offence.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Tyrell (Stratford 90), Jones, Ogley, Hanby, Duffty, Price, Chambers, Hurst, Beckett. Unused Subs Gregory & Brown.

Gateshead : Swan, Watson, Pepper (Ross), Talbot, Bates, Bowman, McAlindon, Fitzgerald (Alderson), Wright (Preen), Edgcumbe, Proudlock.

Attendance : 169