Lancaster 2 Gateshead 0 LANCASTER continued their excellent start to the season with this impressive win over one of their 'bogey sides', Gateshead.

The Tynesiders always looked dangerous with crowd favourite Steve Bowey looking to single handedly destroy City's defence.

But two goals from Kenny Mayers and a superb overall defensive performance allowed City to take all three points from this very difficult match. The first half was fairly slow but saw one notable chance for either

side. Nicky Scaife for Gateshead played the ball to danger-man Bowie who just fired over the bar.

And City were unlucky not to take the lead in the 40th minute when a pinpoint cross from Kenny Mayers was headed onto the inside of the post by Chris Ward. Gateshead were starting to get frustrated and this showed as they picked up needless bookings. Then Gateshead shot themselves in the foot in the 54th minute when a terrible defensive blunder allowed City to break the deadlock. A mix-up between Paul Proudlock and 'keeper Adrian Swan meant the ball broke loose for Kenny Mayers to steal in, take the ball wide and fire into an open net. A Gateshead player was booked for a crunching tackle which saw Lee Clitheroe go off on a stretcher.

Lancaster rubbed salt into the wound when they doubled their lead and killed any chances of a Gateshead comeback in the 85th minute. Kevin Barnes switched the ball across from the left hand side, Paul

Haddow flicked the ball into the near post and Mayers stole in to head his second goal.

Team: Horridge 8, Sparrow 7, Graham 8, Kilbane 7, Horner (c) 8, Mayers 9, Martin 7, Fowler 8, (Welch 75, 7), Morton 7 (Haddow 65, 7), Clitheroe 8 (Barnes 84, 8).