Match Report

Altrincham ran out deserved winners, though 3-1 was perhaps a little harsh on the visitors, who started the second half strongly after sharing the first half spoils. Murphy's superb header from a Hawes corner gave the Robins an early lead (10 mins) but Gateshead equalised, also from a corner when Preen may or may not have got a delicate nod on a Hawes touch (16 mins). Alty gradually got on top after their slow start to the second half and Gallagher put Alty ahead with a tap in after fine work by Thornley had forced a parry from keeper Swan (64 mins). Jason returned the favour in the last minute when he won the ball and fed Thornley. Thornley rounded the goalkeeper impressively to net the third. Altrincham move ahead of Gateshead, into fourth place in the updated table.

Mark Maddox was restored to the defence following his absence in midweek, allowing his stand-in at centre-back against Northwich, Kevin Hulme, to partner Rod Thornley up front. Lee Poland was moved to the bench, where Jason Gallagher, who is carrying a slight knock, and defender Dave Swannick joined him. Alty also welcomed back their Chairman, Mark Harris, who had spent most of last week in hospital with a foot problem.

After Sertori's shot had been blocked Mr Blackburn turned the first but not the last of his blind eyes when Hulme was pushed off the ball. Then, from a Coburn punt, Watson was panicked into a misdirected back-pass which gave Altrincham a corner on the left which was to cost his side a goal. From Hawes's corner-kick, Murphy sprang magnificently in the left-centre of the box to power a downward header into the net past Swan (10 mins). Two minutes later the lively Murphy got in another header from a right-sided free-kick by Hawes, following a foul on Thornley. Ward, who had a good game, and McAlindon then combined for the visitors to win a throw off Adams, which then led to a right-sided corner. Scott and Maddox contrived to clear Talbot's corner before a testing ball from Illingworth was just reached by Swan as Murphy approached. Mr Blackburn then missed a Sertori hold on Preen but he did spot Hulme's pull on an opponent's shirt and gave a free-kick. The referee then missed a very clear tug at Adams's shirt by McAlindon, some 30 yards out on the Gateshead right and from this Gateshead equalised. McAlindon fed Painter, who won a corner on the right. Talbot's corner may have struck Hawes before Preen stooped and seemed to get a glancing header on it but the ball floated into the far corner of the net with it unclear who had got the final touch (16 mins). (However, the Sunday papers recorded it as an own goal by Hawes). So, both goals had come from corners.

A needless push by Maddox on Preen gave Gateshead a free-kick 25 yards from goal, much to coach Graham Heathcote's annoyance with his own team (18 mins). Thompson unleashed a tremendous shot from the dead-ball kick and Coburn did well, diving to his left, to push the ball around the post for a corner. The corner was cleared and soon Scott and Illingworth fed Thornley but possession was then lost. Next, Preen, on the left, fed Thompson but this move, too, came to nothing. Thornley made amends for his earlier error by winning a free-kick off the giant Rob Jones, just outside the defender's penalty area, but Adams overhit his kick (21 mins).

Gateshead were looking a well organised side, passing the ball about neatly but the bright opening to the game was now partly offset by regular stoppages for free-kicks. Coburn first saved a Talbot free-kick which curled into his hands and then Watson conceded a free-kick against Murphy which Alty wasted. Next Thornley was blocked off by Thompson for yet another free-kick. There was then another stoppage to deal with the injured Murphy (29 mins). Next, Hulme conceded a free-kick against Reed deep in the Gateshead half. Illingworth was the next culprit, prompting a tirade from Graham Heathcote to his players about "naive play" and "silly fouls". Both defences were holding firm at this stage and neither goal was under particular threat.

Above, is a fine picture of the Gateshead game from Alan Johnson. It shows Danny Murphy's goal on Saturday. Danny is on the deck as the ball passes between the keeper and defender. A very fair report of Saturday's game is on the Gateshead web site.

The stoppages continued with treatment being needed for Thompson; he eventually got up holding the small of his back. Craney then burst through the middle but was blocked off by a defender in a manner which the referee judged to be legal (36 mins). From a free-kick for a foul on Thornley, Murphy won a header but the ball ran comfortably to Swan. Altrincham were now enjoying the better of the game and after Hawes and Murphy had combined, Craney was clearly pushed over by Thompson in the box as he attempted to get at the ball. Mr Blackburn again gave nothing. A moment later Agnew was holding Craney but again no free-kick was forthcoming. To show he was not partisan, the man in black then allowed Hulme to get away with a tug. McAlindon overhit a cross in a rare Gateshead foray at this stage (40 mins). From a Craney clearance a feed by Thornley allowed Scott to get in a good low shot which Swan saved well. However, Gateshead ended the half with attacks up both flanks but neither of these led to a shot on goal. The half-time score of 1-1 was probably a fair reflection of a half in which Gateshead had played some good football but Altrincham had had the more chances.

Within two minutes of the restart Thornley was eased off his feet as he ran across the box but Mr Blackburn showed no interest in a penalty (47 mins). He could not ignore Sertori's shove against Preen which helped the Gateshead striker off the pitch, across the touchline. Gateshead then applied some pressure with Ward turning Scott inside out on the Alty right but his cross was cleared (50 mins). Following a Gateshead free-kick Coburn saved well from a 25 yarder by Ward after a pass from Painter. Gateshead were now pressing well, putting together some good passing movements. Altrincham responded by bringing on Gallagher for Illingworth on the right side of midfield (55 mins). Thompson then shot over the bar after Sertori had conceded a throw. With Murphy down injured after a challenge on him, McAlindon got into the box, past Adams, but Coburn saved well. As Murphy was treated, Graham Heathcote informed his team that "we haven't started yet this half"- and he was right (57 mins).

Maddox won a free-kick when McAlindon jumped into him in the air, but a poor ball from Gallagher ended the resulting move. Maddox then got away with a hold on Preen before Coburn held a good cross as Preen closed in (59 mins). Ross replaced Ward for Gateshead (60 mins) before Altrincham belatedly came to life. An Adams cross was met by Gallagher but he could not direct his header at goal, under pressure- and an offside decision was given anyway (61 mins). Talbot struck a free-kick straight to Coburn before a great tackle by Hawes broke up a Gateshead attack. Gallagher and Craney then relayed the ball well but a defender got in just before Thornley could finish off the move. Nelson now replaced Painter for the Tynesiders as Altrincham maintained some pressure (63 mins). It was Thornley who converted this into a goal when he broke free in the inside left position and shot low across Swan, who could only parry the ball towards the back post, to his left, where Gallagher slotted the ball into the empty net from very close range (64 mins).

Although the linesman flagged when Jones hauled down Hulme just outside the box, Mr Blackburn chose to ignore his assistant (65 mins). Mr Blackburn then fell over his own feet (67 mins) before any danger from a weak punch by Coburn was relieved by Mr Blackburn's generous award of a free-kick for an alleged foul on the keeper by Nelson. Much more clear cut was the foul on Hawes by Agnew which did win a free-kick. This came to nothing but when play stopped for treatment to a Gateshead player, the volatile goalkeeper Swan got himself booked for some out of place comments (70 mins). A Gallagher interception sent Thornley forward but Jones did well to recover and stop the forward's advance.

Soon after this Thornley was pulled down by Watson, when he would have been in on goal if he could have stayed on his feet, but once more, Mr Blackburn saw no offence. Thornley hobbled to his feet after treatment (72 mins). Altrincham were now looking reasonably comfortable in their lead but an error allowed in Agnew who wasted his opportunity with a poor ball to Coburn. Murphy then committed a relatively routine foul but got booked for it (74 mins). Lee Poland (74 mins) now replaced Craney and Proudlock took over from McAlindon (77 mins).

Gateshead pressed forward but made little headway as Sertori and Maddox marshalled the Altrincham defence well. A Proudlock cross landed on the roof of the net but Coburn had it well covered (80 mins). Danny Murphy now gave way to Dave Swannick (80 mins). Just after Jones had been all over Hulme, Poland was flattened by a bad foul on the Alty left. Reed received a deserved booking for the offence (82 mins). With Poland off the pitch Hulme got in a volley but his shot was well over the bar. Poland returned to the fray before Coburn half-cleared a Talbot cross with a punch and won a free-kick, (83 mins). After Thornley had again been knocked off the ball with impunity, Hulme took matters into his own hands and committed a foul which got him into Mr Blackburn's rapidly filling book (84 mins).

From Agnew's feed Proudlock curled a shot awfully off target but Gateshead were much closer when Jones sent a header just wide of Coburn's goal. Poland got himself caught offside twice in as many minutes; on the second occasion this was unnecessary and had he just lingered a moment he would have been free on goal (87 mins). A foul on Coburn by Thompson brought out Mr Blackburn's book again (87 mins). Mark Maddox (seen, left) was announced as man of the match at this stage; he had had a solid game but the choice was something of a surprise. Had the judges waited a couple of minutes more they might have changed their minds for, in the last minute of the match, Gallagher won the ball well on the edge of the Gateshead area and played Thornley into the box. Thornley took the ball round the diving goalkeeper with speed and fluency to net an excellent goal (90 mins). At half-time a draw had looked the worse that Gateshead could expect but a strong finish by Altrincham after their sluggish start to the second period made them deserved victors.