BIRTHDAY BOY TAYLOR SEALS THE DEAL FOR SOLID ROBINS

GATESHEAD and Altrincham produced a trademark game between the two sides of thrills and spills, an entertaining match somehow producing just one goal.

- Jeff Bowron

The Heed's inability to defend a 14th-minute cross proved fatal as birthday boy Kian Taylor pounced to stretch Altrincham's impressive unbeaten run to ten games.

Both sides slugged it out in an open first half in which Gateshead clipped the bar and hit the post, Alex Newby passing up a great chance in stoppage time for the Robins.

Injury-ravaged Gateshead, without their first-choice keeper and striker along with four defenders and four midfielders, controlled the second half but couldn't find a way past Caleb Ansen in the Alty goal.

A bad error from the on-loan Norwich City keeper had gifted Oldham a share of the spoils in midweek, but the teenage shot-stopper made amends at the International Stadium with a string of fine saves.

Gateshead manager Carl Magnay felt his side had been hard done by.