Gateshead 1 Spennymoor Town 0.

Spennymoor lost their north east derby to an early goal at the International Stadium.

It was a night in which Moors couldn’t find a way past Gateshead keeper Brad James, who pulled off several good saves when the visitors were on top in the game.

And one big concern for manager Jason Ainsley was an injury to top scorer Glen Taylor, who had to be helped off the field because of injury in the first half.

Moors, who had recalled defender Chris Mason from Blyth because of their injury problems, couldn’t have got off to a worse start on three minutes, when Nicky Deverdics whipped in a free kick for JJ O’Donnell to glance past Moors keeper Mattie Gould.

Moors weathered some more pressure, but they nearly equalised on 15 minutes with a 25 yarder by Dan Ward, that Gateshead keeper Brad James saved at the second attempt.

But they were forced into a change soon after when top scorer Glen Taylor limped off and was replaced by Adam Boyes.

Gateshead had a chance to make the score 2-0 on 39 minutes, but O’Donnell dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area, and then before half time Greg Olley and Deverdics went close.

But at the other end, Dan Ward broke away, but his shot was blocked, and then Andy Johnson pulled his effort wide.

Just after half time, a through ball by former Gateshead centre half James Curtis was picked up by Boyes, but his shot was well saved by James.

And the keeper pulled off another top quality save when he went full length to deny Ward’s effort from the edge of the box again.

But Gateshead broke up the other end, and nearly added another through Olley, who deflected a Deverdics cross just wide.

Moors continued to create chances and on 79 minutes Stephen Brogan was inches wide from the edge of the area James then pulled off another good save, this time to deny midfielder Rob Ramshaw from 25 yards, and then he blocked a header from Curtis.

Gould, Williams, Buddle, Curtis, Brogan, Ramshaw, Chandler, Ward (sub Roberts 82), McKenna, Johnson (sub Cogdon 61), Taylor (sub Boyes 28).

Subs: Mason, Henry.

Attendance 1,337.