Gateshead 3 Forest Green Rovers 1

Forest Green Rovers' hopes of avoiding relegation took a dent when they lost a crucial six-pointer against Gateshead on Tyneside last night, writes Jeff Bowron.

A tense and scrappy affair saw Rovers get back on level terms after conceding an early goal, only to be immediately undone by a goal of the season contender.

On-loan Scunthorpe winger Peter Winn delivered the body blow, and Gateshead then sealed victory ten minutes from time through sub Brian Wake.

The defeat leaves Forest Green eight points behind the Tynesiders, who lost 8-0 at Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday.

Gateshead's 10th minute opener had a touch of fortune as Phil Turnbull's shot looped into the air of a defender for Graeme Armstrong to volley into the roof of the net.

Strike partner Daryl Clare had an effort ruled out for offside and then shot past the angle from a Winn cross.

Forest Green took half an hour to threaten and when they did Tomi Ameobi headed a Conal Platt free-kick straight at Paul Farman, who was then almost beaten by Reece Styche.

It was Rovers' best spell and they equalised after Gateshead had committed men forward for a throw-in opposite the visitors 18 yard line.

Rovers cleared and swiftly switched defence to attack as on-loan MK Dons winger Danny Powell ran at two exposed home defenders from inside his own half to finish clinically.

Within two minutes however Gateshead were back in front when Winn unleashed a thunderous 30-yard angled volley from out wide that flew into the far top corner.

Only a double Danny Ireland save prevented further damage in injury time, but the second half proved to be an even more cagey affair than the first.

Chances were at a premium at both ends as the two strugglers slugged it out in an uncompromising midfield battle.

Winn shot over from 25 yards before a poor Farman pass almost gifted Powell an equaliser - James Curtis making a superb goal saving block.

Wake then made the game safe for Gateshead when he shot low into the bottom corner after Ireland had palmed clear a Wayne Phillips cross-shot.

Farman then saved from Powell before Wake wasted a great chance to make it four in the dying minutes to leave Forest Green to make the long haul home pointless.

Gateshead: Farman, Baxter, Heckingbottom, Hurren (Francis 60), Curtis, Swailes, Parkinson (Phillis 60), Turnbull, Armstrong (Wake 68), Clare, Winn.

Subs: (not used) Provett (gk), Buchanan.

Forest Green: Ireland, Stonehouse, Styche, Platt (Davies 76), Smith, Powell, Ameobi, Armstrong, Thorne (Else 90), Hodgkiss, Rankin (Brown 68).

Subs: (not used) Henry, Wilkinson.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Hartlepool)

Att: 485