Brief report John Laidlar from  his  Alty Pages where a full report can be found

GATESHEAD (0) 2 ALTRINCHAM (0) 1

SCORERS

• 48 mins: Phil ROSS (Gateshead 1 Altrincham 0)
• 68 mins: Kevin ELLISON (Gateshead 1 Altrincham 1)
• 88 mins: Dick TRACEY (Gateshead 2 Altrincham 1)

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  REFEREE: Mr R Cook (Sheffield)

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  ATTENDANCE: 251

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  TEAMS
  

  13.1.01	GATESHEAD	versus.	ALTRINCHAM
  3pm	White shirts, black shorts	---.	Blue and white shirts and shorts
  1.	Adrian SWAN	1.	Stuart COBURN
  2.	Richie WATSON	2.	Gary SCOTT
  3.	Graham PEPPER	3.	Steve PORTER
  4.	Phil ROSS	4.	James GLENDENNING
  5.	Sam KITCHEN (capt.)	5.	Gary TALBOT (capt.)
  6.	Rob BOWMAN	6.	Steve HAWES
  7.	Paul PROUDLOCK	7.	Keith MAIRS
  8.	Paul THOMPSON	8.	Stuart SCHEUBER
  9.	Dick TRACEY	9.	Steve FINNEY
  10.	Kenny CRAMMAN	10.	Danny MURPHY
  11.	Paul DALTON	11.	Kevin ELLISON
  12.	Steve PREEN	12.	Jason GALLAGHER
  14.	Gareth McALINDON	14.	Ian CRANEY
  15.	Simon BATES	15.	Mark MADDOX

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  BACKGROUND
  Altrincham found themselves up against a revitalised Gateshead side who had laboured for some weeks under the outgoing managerial regime of Mattie Pearson. Paul Proudlock is the temporary player-manager but an unidentified leather-jacked man was directing affairs from the touchline. He elicited bizarre chants of "Leather Jacket, give us a wave" from the equally bemused home fans who, like the visiting Alty choir, were in good voice. Alty started the game undefeated in their last six league matches but with just one away win since September. The International Stadium is an excellent venue but also an odd one for all of the spectators are penned into one half of one side of the main stand; the players therefore face total silence from five-sixths of the ground and even the spectators in the stand are separated from the pitch by a running track, a path and a long-jump pit. Considering the pitch is also used by Gateshead's rugby league team, it is in good condition though the rugby markings are clearly evident on the pitch as well as the soccer ones. The ground has an excellent social club and the locals are friendly!

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  SUMMARY
  Gateshead gained revenge for Altrincham's fortunate last-minute win at Moss Lane in August with their own late winner today. Altrincham started slowly, with misplaced passes and a lack of spark in the opening minutes but they improved as the half wore on. Finney struck the bar mid-way through the half but Gateshead had the ball in the net twice though each was rightly disallowed; one for a foul on Coburn, the other for double offside. Alty also started the second period in a low gear and paid for an unnecessary tug by Glendenning on the touchline. From the resulting free-kick Coburn half came for the ball but Ross was incisive and slotted the ball past him (48 mins). However, after determined work by Mairs, Ellison got through the middle and scored, though Swan got a hand to the ball (68 mins). Altrincham then looked good value for at least a draw and had some chances to do even better. However, hesitation between Coburn and Talbot allowed an innocuous ball to find Tracey, who finished neatly with just two minutes left.

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  TEAM NEWS
  There was no sign of midweek debutant Adam Lillis for Altrincham, who played Finney alone in the centre of the attack, with Murphy and Ellison on the flanks. The defence was yet again shuffled with Glendenning partnering Talbot at the back and Maddox on the bench, whilst Porter and Scott were at full-back, with Gallagher as substitute. Keith Mairs made his first league start, in the midfield, where Mark Ward omitted himself. Recently departed Gateshead striker Paul Thompson returned to the Club on the departure of sacked manager, Mattie Pearson and played today. Their skipper, Sam Kitchen, had recovered from injury to play but Steve Preen did not and only started on the bench. Ex-Macclesfield Town player, Dick Tracey made his home debut up front.

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  FINAL SCORE: GATESHEAD 2 ALTRINCHAM 1

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Photographs by Alan Johnson 

	The superb Gateshead International Stadium used for a variety of sports including football, rugby league and in the summer is the venue of several international athletic meetings
Gateshead FC are fortunate to have the use of this Council backed stadium. Unfortunately the club is not well supported and the gates rarely exceed 250. Here is the crowd at the start of the game, the seating in one half of the stadium is not in use
I normally sit about 2 feet behind the goal line and four feet from the goal post. Just as I was about to start taking photos a steward told me the Chairman of Gateshead FC had asked me to move  behind a white line which was some 15 feet from the action. I presume this was for my safety. This was unfortunate as it  made photography with a digital camera very difficult and after half time when flash was required impossible.
	A good save by keeper Adrian Swan
Gateshead defence in action
	Keeper Swan is quite a contortionist, making several diving saves
The keeper missed this one as did both the defence and attack
	A near one for Alty, with the keeper beaten the ball just went over the bar to finish up behind not in the net

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