Lancaster City completed a heroic come from behind victory at Gateshead to claim three vital league points.

City's record at Gateshead is poor - the side from south of the River Tyne have been one of the Unibond league's most consistent performers in recent years.

The home side - rocked late last year when their main sponsors pulled out, leaving them with a £ 60,000 shortfall, - took an early lead through Steve Preen's well-taken effort from the edge of the area.

But the scores were level just before half time when City equalised through midfielder Dean Martin, who got on the end of a Steve Birks flick on from a long free kick by Farrell Kilbane shortly before the break.

That gave City impetus and Barrie Stimpson's first half-time team talk as stand-in manager obviously had the desired effect as it took just two minutes for the Dolly Blues to take a deserved lead.

City fans are used to seeing Kenny Mayer's versatility as a centre half or midfielder, but the big man's forays as a centre forward are more occasional.

However, with Brian Welch now suffering a suspension after his sending off in the non-match against Bishop Auckland, Mayers took a makeshift role up front in a new look formation.

With the ball bobbling about in the Gateshead penalty area, Mayers showed a cool head and great finishing ability to slot the ball home.

That was the end of the scoring, but City had to dig deep to preserve their hard-earned lead, with the ever-impressive Mark Thornley making an instinctive save from former Scunthorpe ace Gareth McAlindon's long-range shot.

Richie Alderson put the rebound wide from close range.

The result didn't allow Lancaster to make up ground on Barrow or Burton Albion, both of whom won.

Lancaster City have another long haul away trip to struggling Whitby Town on Saturday, the first leg of a double header against the Yorkshire club.

Surprisingly, despite City's lengthy fixture backlog they are not in midweek action next