This match may have been a crowd-pleaser, but Slazenger were bitterly disappointed with this performance after recent signs of improvement.
The Horbury side started brightly and after a series of lively attacks took the lead through Mike Thornicroft.
However, Slazenger were unable to keep up the early momentum and their passing game fell apart.
Gateshead took full advantage scoring twice in three minutes, both from penalty corners.
Slazenger could not raise their game and the side from the North East extended their lead on three further occasions before the half time whistle.
Slazenger showed more determination in the second half and Mark Swinden was at the heart of all of their positive moves.
Chris Hayton went close with the strong run from midfield, but Slazenger found themselves 7-1 down after Gateshead scored from another penalty corner and then scrambled the ball home minutes later.
To their credit, Slazenger stormed back in the last ten minutes with a penalty corner goal from Mark Swinden and a brace from the ebullient Alec Gilston.
Thornicroft should have narrowed the gap even further after a mazy individual run but his shot went agonisingly wide.
Slazenger travel to Sunderland next Saturday for a 2:00pm start.
