Windscale travelled to Gateshead Leam Rangers and pushed the Wearside League leaders all the way.
In the end the hosts took the points with two unanswered strikes deep into the second half.
The omens were not good on the journey across to Gateshead as the team bus was delayed due to three separate road traffic incidents en route.
As a result the Atoms arrived at Gateshead’s Hill Top Ground 25 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off time.
A request to delay the scheduled start time by five minutes to allow the visitors time for a proper warm-up period was denied by an over-officious referee.
Due to the limited preparation time available, the Atoms took time to settle against free-scoring Rangers.
The hosts, as expected set out their stall in the usual manner, sending long balls forward to feed a robust attacking force.
The Atoms were under pressure for the first 20 minutes particularly with the aerial threat Gateshead presented.
Their cause was not helped when midfielder Rod Davidson was forced off the pitch with an early injury and had to be replaced by Kieran Lawson.
However, they coped with this and gradually found a footing in the game.
Goalkeeper Levi McAdam continued his run of good form in goal ably supported by a solid performance from the Atoms defensive back line.
However, there were two incidents in the last five minutes of the first period which had a major impact on the result.
In the 44th minute, Windscale’s Ross Leeson was dismissed for a tackle which the match official deemed ‘denied a goal scoring opportunity’.
This was despite the incident occurring out wide and the Atoms having a defender available in a covering position.
The second incident in the fourth minute of additional time was also a debatable red card for a Gateshead player.
Following a crude out of control challenge on Jack Wordsworth with no contact made with the ball, the referee only brandished a yellow card.
The game was still scoreless at the half-time whistle.
Gateshead continued with their physical approach in the second period but were still unable to breach a resolute defensive effort by the Atoms ten men.
There were few chances created by the visitors with each man contributing to keep the hosts at bay.
But with 74 minutes gone Gateshead took the lead.
Another high ball was bombed into the area, with Luke Ogden’s strike entering the Atoms goal courtesy of a slight deflection.
The points were sealed with four minutes left after another high ball into the Atoms penalty area found players from both sides scrambling to get a touch.
Lennox Stephenson was finally left in possession and tapped in at the far post to add the second.
Despite the defeat the Atoms can feel proud of their efforts pushing Gateshead all the way, with the two incidents at the close of the first half certainly major contributors to the outcome.
Windscale are away again on Wednesday evening when they travel to take on West Auckland, reserves an early chance to shake off this defeat.
Their hosts have only one point and have lost five of their first six fixtures.
You an hear manager Stephen Fawcett reflecting on the game below:
