Gateshead 0 Luton Town 1

Date: Saturday 23rd January 2010, by Heed Army

Kris Gate is carried from the field injured

Gateshead gave a good account of themselves against Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, but the rub of the green was definitely with Luton.

In the opening minute Graeme Armstrong rattled the crossbar with a strike from 20 yards, with the loose ball bouncing away from the goal mouth only for a Luton defender to clear the ball. Within 40 seconds Daryl Clare had a chance from 6 yards, after being put through by Phil Turnbull his stretching volley went tamely into Kevin Pilkington's arms.

Captain Kris Gate had to leave the field of play on a stretcher during the first half, after a clash of feet in the Gateshead 18 yard box. The incident was without malice or intent, the two players accidentally collided and Gate didn’t manage to get back up. Thankfully the injury is a gashed ankle, not ligament damage as feared, and hopefully wont keep him out too long.

Gateshead continued to make the better of the chances in the first half, with Alex Francis replacing the injured Kris Gate.

Luton took the lead in horrific circumstances if your name is Paul Farman. He made a complete hash of a cross, allowing it to slip under him and creep over the goal line, sending the 400 to 500 Luton Fans wild.

Graeme Armstrong headed straight at Pilkington from a McDermott cross, either side and it would've been a goal.

Half-time 0-1

The second half started in the same vein as the first, but with many of the attacks coming from left hand side. Wayne Phillips started to get back to the form he had last season with step overs a plenty and whipping dangerous balls into the box.

Stephen Richardson replaced Neale McDermott down the right hand wing, with 20 minutes to go, and Gateshead still had there chance with the best of them falling to Wayne Phillips.

Phillips got in down the left side of the box after good work once again by Graeme Armstrong, however Phillips playing more like his old self couldn't find a finish.

Gateshead force another corner that ultimately comes to nothing

Alex Francis' low shot from the right edge of the penalty area had the ball in the net after a deflection from the offside Daryl Clare, ruled out by the linesman. Baxter's ball into the box from the left was then begging to be headed home, but a stretching Clare took it off the head of Armstrong only for it to loop into pilkington's arms.

Further chances fell to Turnbull and Francis, with a great opportunity for Wayne Phillips who did well to turn in the box but fired wide of the upright when he should've at least hit the target.

Luton offered little and were there for the taking. Gateshead played well again in the league but come up pointless, it's becoming a worryingly familiar story.

Farman; Baxter, Curtis, Bains, Robinson; McDermott (Richardson) (Williams), Turnbull, Gate (Francis), Phillips; Clare, Armstrong.

Subs (Not used): Provett, Jones.

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Gateshead 0 Luton Town 1