AFTER three defeats in which they had shipped 12 goals, Altrincham got their season off to a belated start with a Bank Holiday routing of Gateshead.

Before the match, Robins were anchored to the bottom of the table with goal difference of minus 11 and small sections of the fans calling for manager Bernard Taylor's head.

However, he and the team answered back with an accomplished display against the men from the north east, which saw Rod Thornley recapture his goalscoring form and the Alty defence record a much needed clean sheet.

Peter Band made his debut in the centre of midfield after serving a three match ban incurred while playing for Hyde United, and former Squires Gate keeper Andy Moore was given his first start for the club between the posts.

Stephen Rose replaced Mark Maddox at centre-back and Simon Woodford took Jason Gallagher's place on the bench.

Alty opened the scoring on 20 minutes when a Gary Scott cross was clearly handled at the back post. Referee Kellett had no choice but to award a penalty which Thornley dispatched with ease.

After having taken the lead for the first time this season, Taylor's troops set about the tough task of protecting that lead, which up till then had been far easier said than done.

The home side were constantly caught out by the well-practiced offside trap employed by the visitors and as such, were reduced to repelling advance from Gateshead for the remainder of the half.

The visitors could clearly sense that an equaliser was in the offing, as they gained heart from Neal Bishop's shot into the side netting and Alex Lawson's strong effort crashing against the angle of upright and bar.

Altrincham could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief when half-time came.

Thornley made it two on 55 minutes when he picked up a deflected cross six yards from goal and netted after a smart turn.

Invigorated by the brace, Thornley went from strength to strength and chalked up his third just five minutes later, pouncing on an advantage given by the referee to beat Gateshead keeper Richard Siddall in a on-on-one.

There will be very little chicken-counting at Moss Lane this season, at least until said chickens have hatched, but surely this was the first three pointer for the Robins.

And so it transpired. Gateshead were a spent force and could do nothing when Band, instrumental in the side's turnaround registered his side's fourth by netting the rebound from a McDonald shot.

This result was the perfect shot in the arm for the demoralised Robins, and sets them up well for an assault on the league table, which is still in its infancy.

Robins: Moore, Neil Murphy, Scott, Rose, Talbot, Ryan, Gallagher, McDonald, Band, Thornley, Young. Subs: Maddox, Woodford, Smith.