The Moss Lane outfit had to wait until injury time to seal three points after a classic encounter ended in controversy.

Robins had set up a grandstand finale after levelling the scores at 2-2 with just over 10 minutes to go when debutant front man Mark Quayle slotted home his first for the club.

And what a finale it proved to be when Robins were awarded a hotly disputed penalty in the dying seconds.

Gateshead's Nicky Scaife was adjudged to have handled a Stuart Scheuber header on the line leading to mass protests from the North Easterners.

Two were sent off for voicing their opinion to the man in black but Alty boss Mark Ward kept his cool to slot home the spot kick and claim all three points for the Robins.

Earlier, Alty had taken the lead when Kevin Ellison fired in a daisy cutter from 20 yards after some good early pressure.

Gateshead were level before the interval when Stuart Coburn was beaten by a Paul Dalton strike. And it was the visitors who took the initiative in the second period when Wayne Edgecumbe fired home just before the hour mark.

But it was Alty who were to be handed an unexpected lifeline which they gladly took to get their season off to a flier.

YOU can also keep up to date with the latest news on the Robins by going to the Messenger's website, www.thisis trafford.co.uk

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