Gateshead 0-2 Fleetwood Town
Gateshead suffered their first defeat of the season after two goals in the last ten minutes of the first half gave Conference premier newcomers Fleetwood Town a deserved first away win.
After naming the same line up for the first three games Gateshead manager Ian Bogie brought in Alex Francis for Andy Ferrell in midfield and Craig Nelthorpe for fellow wide man Martin Brittain.
The move, however, backfired with both Francis and Nelthorpe replaced at half-time and the formation switched from a cautious 4-5-1 to a more attacking 4-4-2.
Gateshead had more of the ball and tightened up defensively but never looked like clawing their way back into the game, substitute Fisher forcing the only save from Town keeper Danny Hurst.
While Nelthorpe and Francis paid the price for a woeful performance from Gateshead in the first half Bogie was spoilt for choice who to take off.
Gateshead have now failed to score, and rarely looked like doing so, in their opening two home games and Gary Mulligan once again cut an isolated figure up front.
After an encouraging start to the season a lack of goals and creativity at home will hinder progress unless addressed.
Fleetwood's defence was comfortable for the majority of the evening, and stocky central defender Steve McNulty was given time and space to almost fashion the opener.
McNulty dinked a lovely ball from half way into the left channel where former Morecambe striker Wayne Curtis cut inside to drill a shot that hit the inside of the post and flew across goal.
It was a warning shot that went unheeded. Three minutes later the Cod men were ahead as a good move involving Curtis and Ian Craney, and a slip by Craig Baxter, saw Magno Vieira drill home from 16 yards.
Tim Deasy then denied Jamie Maguire for the second time in the game as Fleetwood made light work of Gateshead's five man midfield.
The home side then crucially conceded a second goal a minute from half-time, Maguire's 30 yard sideways volley going through a crowded box to find the far corner with Deasy just unable to save.
Booed off at the interval - unheard of during Bogie's tenure as manager - Gateshead were left with a mountain to climb, and one they never looked like scaling.
It might all have been different had Carl Jones given the Tynesiders a 17th minute lead in their only threat of the first half.
Nelthorpe's corner was headed on by the dependable Ben Clark, Man of the Match for the second consecutive game, but the unmarked Jones saw his eight yard shot hit the legs of Hurst.
Gateshead created little from open play and they found it hard to do so after the break as Fleetwood sat on their two goal lead.
There was more urgency about Gateshead's play but there was little goalmouth action at either end.
Curtis curled past the post while Fisher did well to create space for himself outside the box but his shot on the turn was saved by Hurst.
Other than that there was little to excite the crowd, who will hope for more in Saturday's big Conference derby at Darlington.
An interesting aside to a disappointing night was that four of Fleetwood's five bookings were for fouls on the fleet-footed James Marwood.
Gateshead: Deasy, Baxter, Heckingbottom, Gate, Jones, Clark, Marwood, Turnbull, Mulligan, Francis (Fisher 45), Nelthorpe (Brittain 45). Subs (not used): Cook (gk), Ferrell, Brown.
Bookings: Baxter, Heckingbottom
Fleetwood Town: Hurst, Beeley, Barry, McNulty, Craney, Vieira, Thorpe, Maguire, Curtis, (Seddon 78), Cavanagh, Beesley (Connors 71). Subs (not used): Davies (gk), Brown, Miles.
Goals: Vieira (35), Maguire (44)
Bookings: Barry, Craney, Vieira, Cavanagh, Thorpe
Referee: Ross Joyce (Middlesbrough)
Att: 623
Carl Jones challenges for the ball.
Alex Francis attacking the Fleetwood goal.
Striker Gary Mulligan looking to bring a high ball under control. Photos by Martin Avery.
