Windscale dented top-of-the-table Hartlepool’s 100 per cent record when the teams met in a six goal thriller last night at the Falcon Complex.
In an end-to-end game which ended 3-3, neither team could grumble about the outcome.
Hartlepool were the first to register on the scoresheet. Attempting to play out from the back, Ryan Fitzwilliam was dispossessed by Finlay Smith who slotted the ball home to give the visitors the lead on the half hour mark.
In a five-minute purple patch, the Atoms took the lead with goals from Dean Fox and Lewis White.
A miscue from Matt Metcalf in the 39th minute was collected by Fox who dinked the ball over Adam Lewis the Gateshead custodian.
Then Windscale doubled their tally with Fox again involved. His initial shot was blocked and the loose ball was picked-up by Kieron Fraser who squared it across goal to White to slam into the back of the net and give the Atoms a 2-1 half-time advantage.
The second period started with both teams attempting to gain midfield supremacy. Hartlepool were always dangerous from set pieces and they levelled the scores in the 65th minute from a corner kick, with Craig Linsel converting.
It took the Atoms three minutes to respond. Matt Metcalf picked-up the ball in midfield, found the right pass to regular scorer Ben Graham who slotted the ball into the far corner.
The see-saw game was far from over with both teams creating opportunities which were denied either by saves from the opposing goalkeeper or good defensive work.
With 15 minutes to go, Hartlepool regained parity. Following a series of three corners, Tom Gavin eventually forced the ball into the net to ensure them a share of the spoils.
Windscale have a free Saturday with no fixture allocated to them over the Bank Holiday weekend. Their next fixture is another home midweek game against Richmond Town on 31st August at the Falcon Complex with a 7:45 kick-off.
