On Bank Holiday Saturday, and after the midweek home victory over Truro, Andy Peaks Lambs made the long trip to the International Stadium to face Alun Armstrong’s Gateshead side, who had also won just one of their opening three league games, and would be looking to bury the memory of the 4-0 reversal at Rochdale in midweek.

Peaks made a change in midfield with Joe Riley coming in for Tom Tonks who would have to wait to come off the bench in the second half to make his 100th appearance for The Lambs .

Gateshead kicked off the game, and there was a call for a penalty on 9 when Ponticelli played in Roberts down the left-hand side of the box, before going to ground but his appeals are waved away.
On 15 Singh was called into action for the first time when Adom drove a low shot from the edge of the box forcing the Lambs keeper to protect his goal with a low stop.
Roberts was forced to leave the field to be replaced by McGlinchey on 17, and The Heed struck the bar from close range on 25.
Hurst picked up a Fairlamb diving headed clearance on 26 and curled his shot just over the bar via a deflection for a corner which was dealt with but the home side took the lead when the corner came out to Richardson and his ball in was headed home at close range by Flint despite the best efforts of Singh (1-0, 27 mins)
Singh was called into action again on 35 from a long range shot from the right which was chased down by Chapman then cleared, and a cross from Adom looking for Telford on 37 whipped over him and the Lambs defence.
After a change for the home side, a deep freekick into the box by Riley on 45 needed Shelvey to leap high and punch it away under pressure
Five minutes added time were shown at the end of the first half and Riley saw his deflected shot from 30 yards loop up and back to the keeper before the half time whistle blew.

HT: 1-0
 
The Lambs restarted proceedings, kicking from right to left as watched by the fans in the main stand and Enoru made a couple of searching runs towards goal in the opening exchanges, beating his man before drilling a cross into the box which was cleared.
Riley was booked for a challenge on Adom as he advanced over the halfway line on 51 and on 53 Chapman made headway from the right into the centre and found Flint who cut back and saw his shot deflected high over the bar or a corner on the right which Chapman loaded and Pani got a touch to send it out past the near post.
A foul on the left set Riley up with a deadball on 56 and Shelvey spilled his freekick allowing The Lambs to retain possession. After a period of sustained attack Duku swept the ball home from close range past the keeper but the offside flag denied him the equaliser.
Richardson was booked for a foul on the left wing on 57 and from the resulting freekick Riley’s ball in was punched away by the keeper.
Another run from Enoru earned a corner on the left on 62 which Shelvey plucked out of the air and he repeated the run and cross on 64 forcing another corner with the same result.
Ponticelli tried a cross form the right on 66 resulting in another flagkick for The Lambs but nothing came from it, and Gateshead broke forward with Chapman chasing a deep pass which resulted in a corner for the home side, which Digie headed away.
However, Flint doubled the home advantage on 69 mopping up a parry by Singh following a long range strike which fell invitingly to the Gateshead man to knock home from close range. (2-0, 69 mins)
Tamworth made two changes before play restarted as Tonks and Lynch replaced Riley and Ponticelli and when Gateshead played themselves into trouble on 76 Enoru capitalised but his teammates couldn’t capitalise on his low cross and the home side countered through Adom until his path was blocked by Tonks in midfield.
The Lambs made two more changes ahead of a freekick which Shelvey got up to catch the high ball into the box and on 85 Chapman needed treatment for a head injury before being replaced.
Shelvey was called into action on 89 via a low Mols strike and six minutes added time were shown as a long range strike into the crowded area from Sayer fooled the keeper a little and he wasn’t able to prevent it bouncing up and past him into the back of the net for a late lifeline (2-1, 90+1 mins)
Lynch forced a corner on 92 but it was too long for Curley to get his head to and at the other end Fitzhugh got the right side of Tonks on the edge of the box but slipped as he shaped to shoot and the chance was gone shortly before the final whistle blew.

Gateshead
Shelvey, Adom, Chapman (Bone 86), Flint, Grayson, Home (John 68), Hurst (Nouble 68), Melborne, Pani, Richardson, Telford (Fitzhugh 45)
Subs: Brooks, Ferguson, Sheaf
YC: Richardson 57, Adom 80

Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Digie, Bates (Mols 82), Duku, Enoru (Sayer 82), Fairlamb, Riley (Tonks 70), Roberts (McGlinchey 17), Hollis, Ponticelli (Lynch 70)
Subs: Donkor, Phillips
YC: Riley 51, Fairlamb 81

Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Assistants: Alex Gray, Matt Archibald
Fourth Official: Adam Nichol

Attendance: