The Blues made three changes for the trip to Gateshead with James Watson replacing Brendan West in the defence, Scott Collins replacing the injured Gary Duffty and Chris Hurst, who was unavailable, being replaced by Craig Goodyear.

The opening ten minutes were pretty even with both sides having chances. Mark Wilkinson was forced to save a shot by Thompson which he deflected for a corner and he was then called into action form the flag kick, saving an effort by Edgcumbe. At the other end Tommy Brooks had a good run down the left before laying the ball off to Rob Hanby whose 20 yard drive was straight at the keeper. Midway through the half the home side began to press a little more with Dalton shooting just wide after some good build up play before they took the lead on 25 minutes. With a high cross from the right coming over which would have eluded everyone Watson decided to needlessly shove Thompson in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Dalton stepped up to convert the penalty. Nine minutes later Gateshead found themselves two goals up as Edgecumbe fired the ball in from close range following a goalmouth scramble. Worse followed on 38 minutes when a ball from the back found Edgecumbe in acres of space 30 yards from goal. He looked up and saw Wilkinson off his line before lifting a perfect lob over him into the net while the Blues defence stood and watched. Scott Collins came close to reducing the arrears just before half time but his header from a free-kick by Nicky Cranston went just wide of the post.

The start to the second half saw Frickley try and take the game to Gateshead which they managed for a while but the defence was always struggling against the pace of the Gateshead attack with Martin Fox, in particular, giving Bates too much room down the Blues' left. On 49 minutes Wilkinson was forced to save well from an Edgcumbe shot from 18 yards before on 61 minutes he tipped a curling shot by Dalton round the post. However, a minute later, he went from hero to villain, kicking the ball straight to Edgecumbe who ran on to shoot past Wilkinson into the bottom right hand corner. Brooks forced Swan in the Gateshead goal to save a low shot from just inside the box on 71 minutes before Gateshead notched their fifth in the 88th minute when McAlinden followed up to score after Lafferty had cleared Thompson's goalbound shot off the line.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Fox, Lafferty, J. Watson, Hanby, Cranston (Bashforth 63), Goodyear, Beckett, Collins (Edge 63), Brooks. Unused sub. West