Windscale lost 3-2 at Gateshead Leam Rangers where they have yet to come away with a victory in the Wearside League.
The Atoms did not make their task any easier by conceding two goals in the 30th and 33rd minutes as Harvey Wake and Cameron Arthurs gave the home side the momentum.
Both goals were the result of poor defending at corners and the Gateshead side retained their 2-0 advantage to the break.
Windscale were much better in the second period reducing the arears ten minutes into the second period.
Will Rooke held-up the ball well to lay it off to Ross Leeson whose thunderbolt of a shot was unable to be gathered cleanly by Gateshead keeper Callum Thomson and Lewis Jolly followed-up to hammer the loose ball into the net.
The Atoms were on the hunt now, although their endeavours were not helped by some strange decisions by the match officials.
Rhys Singleton was unfortunate to see his header cannon back off the Leam crossbar and a further effort by Jolly was cleared off the line by a superb save from Thomson.
Despite Windscale now exerting most of the pressure it was the hosts who re-established their two goal advantage courtesy of Joe Hunter goal in the 63rd minute.
Undaunted the Atoms refused to throw in the towel and as the game entered the third minute of the eight added on, Andrew Begbie netted to set up a nervous last five minutes for the hosts, but they held on.
Windscale are at home on Wednesday evening when they host Darlington RA at the Falcon Complex, with a 7-45pm.kick-off.
The Atoms are down to third place in the table after leading the way following four straight wins – which have now been followed by two defeats.
