In an entertaing affair at the International Stadium, Altrincham survived intense late pressure to claim all three points against Gateshead who had started the game two places above the visitors, who were seventh.

The game began in lively fashion; Ansen had to make an early parry, with Horton striking the top of the bar from the rebound (3 mins).

Altrincham took the lead in the 14th minute when Taylor, on his 20th birthday and making his first start of his loan period from Preston, scored with a low shot from ten yards. The goal came after an interchange between Newby and Weaver on the right before Bickerstaff was clearly fouled in the box. However, the referee played on as the ball came out to Taylor to net.

Gateshead hit the post (25 mins) before Crawford's attempted lob from 45 yards was a little too high to find the net for the Robins.

After Newby had spurned a good chance in added time, half-time was reached with the visitors one up.

Despite tremendous pressure from Gateshead late in the game, which included six corners in a six-minute spell, Altrincham hung on to win 1-0. It was their first away win of the season against any team in the top thirteen at kick off.

SCORERS:

• 14 mins: Kian TAYLOR (Gateshead 0 ALTRINCHAM 1)

Altrincham had been rocked in the days before this game by the revelation that two players had suffered ACL injuries, with goalkeeper Ethan Ross and left-back Eddy Jones the unfortunate duo.

To replace Ross, they had brought in loanee Norwich City goalkeeper Caleb Ansen, who had a mixed debut in goal at Oldham in midweek.

For their part, Gateshead had lost striker Flower to injury since their last game but had secured the loan signing of Hull City teenage forward Tyrell Sellars-Fleming on the eve of this game.

Along with recent signings George Shelvey, Brandon Horton and Jack Roles, Sellars-Fleming was one of four potential home debutants for the hosts.

GATESHEAD (White shirst with black trim, black shorts and socks) : 41. George Shelvey, 46. Dan Jones, 2. Robbie Tinkler (c), 16. Callum Tripp, 19. Luke Hannant, 17. Jack Roles, 8. Regan Booty, 28. Brandon Horton, 11. Ben Worman, 45. Jovan Malcolm, 24. Will McGowan. Subs: 12. Kain Adom, 13. Harrison Bond, 27. Tyrell Sellars-Fleming 38. Jamie Bramwell, 34. Charlie Colkett, 15. Liam Humbles, 39. Oli Thompson

ALTRINCHAM (Aquamarine shirts and socks, white shorts) : 21. Caleb ANSEN, 2. Lewis BANKS, 4. Lewis BAINES (c), 31. Charlie OLSON, 23. Tylor GOLDEN, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 22. Tom CRAWFORD, 12. Kian TAYLOR, 17. Lucas WEAVER, 10. Alex NEWBY, 29. Jake BICKERSTAFF. Subs: 9. Regan LINNEY, 11. Justin AMALUZOR, 16. James JONES, 20. Kahrel REDDIN, 15. Regan GRIFFITHS, 24. Joe NUTTALL, 27. Louie FALLON (gk)

Gateshead started the game in fifth place whilst Altrincham were seventh.

For Alty this was the second of six away league games in a sequence of seven National League fixtures.

Remarkably, Gateshead had hit four goals in their last four league victories and in their previous win to that they hit five goals! And three of those games were away from home.

However, they had won just one of their last five league matches.

Their planned midweek game against Braintree Town at the International Stadium last Tuesday had been postponed owing to the state of the pitch.

REPORT:

Altrincham kicked off but it was the hosts who threatened first as an early effort was stopped by Ansen before Horton hit the loose ball onto the top of the crossbar (3 mins).

Alty responded as Weaver got forward to earn a corner off Jones (4 mins). For Gateshead, Malcolm was proving a handful for Olson who did well to hold the striker shortly after conceding a freekick for a foul on the player (9 mins).

The home defence was looking less than totally secure and an error soon allowed Bickerstaff a chance but his effort was blocked (10 mins).

Less than perfect handling by Ansen then gave Gateshead a fortunate corner but nothing came of it (12 mins).

An Alty advance on the right saw Newby drift to the right and play a one-two with Weaver, before crossing the ball to Bickerstaff who was clearly being fouled inside the box. However, play continued and the ball came out to Taylor who scored with a low shot from left of centre (14 mins).

After Baines had halted Hannant and a Horton cross had been cleared, Kian Taylor forced a save from Shelvey (23 mins). At the other end, Alty were carved open but Malcolm's shot across the keeper struck the bottom of the Altrincham upright with Ansen beaten (25 mins).

When Crawford spotted Shelvey off his line at the other end, he tried to lob the keeper from halfway on the right but the ball cleared the crossbar (25 mins).

Alty threatened again as Taylor's cross was gathered by Shelvey just ahead of the incoming Weaver (29 mins).

At the other end, McGowan's long-range effort drew a good save from Ansen to his left (29 mins). The resulting corner was headed wide.

Alty had a chance to add to their lead when Weaver was put through on the keeper but Shelvey won the duel (33 mins). The loose ball fell for Bickerstaff whose mishit shot from the right cleared the bar comfortably (34 mins).

Next a Newby cross was headed goalwards by Weaver but was cleared by Jones (37 mins).

A home corner was cleared by Baines before Jones was booked for a foul on Bickerstaff (41 mins).

Five added minutes saw Newby lift a Bickerstaff cross over the bar when he should have found the target from six yards (45+4 mins).

Altrincham had had chances to make their lead more secure but they went into the interval with a single-goal advantage.

Having kicked off the second half, Gateshead won an early corner but this was cleared (49 mins).

At the other end Newby was unable to capitalise on a poor clearance by Shelvey. After weathering some home pressure Alty proceeded to win three corners in as many minutes (54-57 mins) but none of them came to anything.

As the hour mark was reached Taylor needed treatment and he was subbed by Linney (61 mins).

Gateshead won a freekick on the edge of the Alty box but Horton put his effort wide (65 mins). Another foul, this time by Golden, allowed the hosts a further freekick soon afterwards.

Midway through the half new loanee Sellars-Fleming replaced Worman (66 mins). Three minutes later the new player fired over the bar after Newby had lost possession and allowed Malcolm to set up the chance.

With fifteen minutes remaining Alty made a double swap; Amaluzor replaced Weaver on the right and midfielder Griffiths made his league debut in place of Newby (71 mins).

Tripp then halted Linney inside the box at the cost of a corner (72 mins).

A further change for Alty brought Nuttall on in place of Bickerstaff (76 mins). Two minutes afterwards, Adom replaced Tinkler, the home captain (78 mins).

As the game went into the final ten minutes, a Linney shot went narrowly wide (81 mins). Next, Golden got himself booked for the third time in four games, this time for a trip (82 mins). A second freekick followed as Gateshead cranked up the pressure in the closing stages.

No fewer than six Gateshead corners were won between the 86th minute and the third added minute. The third and fifth were saved by Ansen, the latter being a good stop from a Roles effort (90+2 mins).

What turned into seven added minutes saw Alty pick up no fewer than three yellow cards in a two-minute spell. Banks was cautioned for a foul (90+5 mins), followed by Nuttall for another offence (90+6 mins) and, finally, Griffiths saw a card for a trip (90+7 mins).

But Altrincham held out to claim the three points which consolidated their seventh position. It had been a good performance in a game where they had ridden their luck as the woodwork twice denied the hosts.