United bounced back in the best possible way after their first defeat of the season thanks to Matt Green's sixth goal of the season. Green's finish from a Steven Kinniburgh cross earned United another valuable away win as they edged out a game Gateshead side to continue to set the pace at the top of the table.

An unchanged United carved out the first chance as defender Chris Swailes deflected a fifth minute shot from the hard working James Constable over the bar. They then cut through the Gateshead defence again after ten minutes as the influential Murray slipped a ball through for Green who dummied past two men and was unlucky to see his shot come back off of the outside of the left hand post.h

With Murray and Cook the wide men in a 4-4-2  system there was plenty of quality on the flanks and the space out  wide was emphasised by the unique surroundings where the international running track ringed the superb playing surface.

Gateshead survived those opening scares and then had two efforts themselves as Phillips drilled over from the right edge of the area and then Richardson tested Clarke for the first time from the opposite side. Clarke and Creighton then combined to deny Richardson once again on 28 minutes, although at the other end young keeper Paul Farman did very well to clear after a dreadful back pass from the experienced Swailes had bounced up awkwardly with Constable and Green closing in fast.

It hadn't been a vintage first half for the U's but they were quickly out of the blocks in the second period as Cook and Batt had efforts flash narrowly wide of the mark. Batt will have enjoyed his next contribution less as he slid in to a challenge and was booked for his efforts, meaning that his fifth yellow card will mean a one game ban. Home manager Ian Bogey was unimpressed by that and a Cook challenge moments earlier and was sent to the stands for his comments to the ref.

Gateshead were still playing with passion but United were starting to make inroads and on 63 they scored the decisiive goal with a very well worked move. Simon Clist played a delightful pass inside the right back for the flying Kinniburgh on the left edge of the area. His pace got him to the line and his precise cut back found Green who finished through a crowd of players from six yards out.

United might have scored more after that as Farman made an outstanding save to deny sub Jack Midson after a backheel from Constable had set him up, but with their back four solid and determined The U's rarely looked like being breached despite the home side's fine work rate.

An important win and United march on: an away win and a clean sheet mean business as usual.

On to the next game: see you at home on Tuesday as United welcome Crawley Town to the Kassam Stadium.

Att: 1,144

Away: 548

Report by Chris Williams

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