Cambridge United fell to a second consecutive defeat after a lacklustre performance at Gateshead. Daryl Clare struck twice to seal the points, while United ended with ten men after Kevin Roberts was stretchered off late on.
Martin Ling made four changes from Tuesday's defeat at Kidderminster which saw a ten match unbeaten run come to an end. Aiden Palmer, Rory McAuley, Simon Russell and Calum Willock all came into the starting eleven, with Josh Coulson, Antonio Murray, Jai Reason and Lee Phillips dropping to the bench alongside Adam Marriott. Former U Andy Parkinson was named in The Heed's eleven.
The sides provided a cagey start to the game, with Danny Crow curling just wide before Gateshead enjoyed a longer spell of possession. Kevin Roberts and David Partridge both cleared their lines for corners before centre back James Curtis was replaced with an injury thirty-five minutes in for The Heed.
It took until thirty-eight minutes in before either side registered a shot on target, but Gateshead made it count by opening the scoring. David Partridge's foul out wide was punished as the delivery made its way to Daryl Clare. The striker maintained his run of scoring against The U's by cutting inside the lunging Partridge and placing the ball calmly into the opposite corner.
Half time came and went with United lacking any ideas going forward. While neither keeper had needed to make a save, Gateshead had made the one opportunity of the half count.
The second half began in a suddenly torrential downpour, with chances still not arising on a frequent basis. Clare headed into Simon Brown's hands before Calum Willock nearly met Simon Russell's cross. Willock and Scott Neilson then made way on the hour, replaced by Antonio Murray and Lee Phillips.
Adam Marriott wasn't far behind as he replaced Simon Russell, with United still failing to work Farman at all. Clare saw his shot deflected just wide, while appeals for a penalty were turned down from the corner. Things went from bad to worse for United as Kevin Roberts was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury, before The U's blew a great chance to equalise and promptly conceded a second goal.
Antonio Murray forced Paul Farman into a good low save after good work from Palmer, before the left back blazed over from eight yards with the keeper grounded. Moments later and Daryl Clare doubled his tally for the afternoon from the spot. Parkinson's goal bound flick was clearly handled by Rory McAuley, and Clare powered his effort past Simon Brown to seal the points. Time ran out for United, with The U's still failing to come close to make a game of it.
Man of the Match: For the second consecutive game United looked completely out of sorts, but Simon Russell gets the nod for being virtually the only U's player to offer anything going forward.
Full minute-by-minute report below.
Reporting by Matt Ramsay
15.35 Afternoon all and welcome to the International Athletics Stadium for today's Conference clash between Gateshead and Cambridge United. Martin Ling has made four changes from Tuesday's poor performance at Kidderminster, with Aiden Palmer, Rory McAuley, Simon Russell and Calum Willock all returning. Former U Andy Parkinson starts for Gateshead.
14.40 Line-ups.
Gateshead: Paul Farman; Craig Baxter, Paul Heckingbottom, James Curtis, Chris Swailes; Andy Parkinson, Pater Winn, Phil Turnbull, Andy Ferrell (c); Graeme Armstrong, Daryl Clare.
Subs: Jim Provett, Wayne Phillips, Phil Cave, Brian Wake, Gavin Hurren.
CUFC: Simon Brown; Aiden Palmer, Kevin Roberts, Brian Saah, David Partridge; Paul Carden (c), Rory McAuley, Simon Russell, Scott Neilson; Danny Crow, Calum Willock.
Subs: Josh Coulson, Antonio Murray, Jai Reason, Adam Marriott, Lee Phillips.
14.57 The sides are out, United in their blue away strip with the hosts in blue shirts and black shorts. All supporters are in the Main Stand here, with U's fans in the far left corner.
15.00 We're underway, United shooting right to left in the first half towards their own fans.
15.02 Danny Crow goes close early on, cutting inside two men before flashing a shot not far wide of the far post, although keeper Paul Farman probably had it covered.
15.08 Good defending from Simon Russell prevents a corner as he plays the ball off Andy Parkinson.
15.11 United win the first corner of the afternoon after good link-up play to Willock ends with the ball booted behind. Brian Saah is beaten to Russell's flagkick.
15.13 Phil Turnbull gives a poor backpass which Calum Willock is onto, but his cross is poor. Moments later Scott Neilson surges at the defence and demands a freekick after running into trouble, but referee Paul Bankes is unmoved.
15.18 After a pretty slumbering opening, Peter Winn is adjudged to have been fouled by Brian Saah out wide, but Craig Baxter's delivery is greatly over hit and drifts wide of the far post.
15.19 Winn has more luck with a delivery this time and Brian Saah heads over his own crossbar. Andy Parkinson's delivery is cleared by Carden before Paul Heckingbottom nearly threads a through ball which just runs out of play.
15.21 Wynn runs well down the line before the ball falls to Andy Parkinson, whose effort is charged down by Carden. Wynn gets the ball back from the corner and David Partridge nearly puts through his own net, firing just wide.
15.28 Not masses to report it has to be said, United are struggling to keep the ball and aren't getting the ball on the floor well enough. Scott Neilson tries to rectify that by darting to the corner before being fouled when releasing the ball.
15.29 The freekick is cleared to Danny Crow, who sets up Kevin Roberts quite a distance from goal, and the wing back will have to do better to open his United account as he fires miles over.
15.32 James Curtis pulls up for Gateshead and looks to be in some trouble. There are no other centre halves on the bench for the hosts. Phil Cave comes on.
15.37 United enjoy their longest spell of possession thus far, resulting in Roberts' cross being just too close to Farman. The keeper claims and clears long, ending in Gateshead winning a freekick.
15.38 GOAL Gateshead 1-0 CUFC. Partridge commits the foul and he's made to pay. Andy Ferrell's delivery is headed back across to Daryl Clare, who lets the ball bounce before cutting inside of the lunging Partridge and placing the ball into the far corner. That's the first shot on target all afternoon.
15.43 Aiden Palmer's through ball is almost perfect as he tees up Calum Willock, but the striker is offside.
15.46 We're into two minutes of stoppage time. Today's attendance is 841 with 264 making the trip up to support The U's.
15.47 That's half time. United have been completely devoid of any ideas going forward so Martin Ling has some words to say at half time.
HALF TIME Gateshead 1-0 CUFC.
16.05 The teams are out slightly later than usual and we're underway. No changes.
16.06 It's started raining pretty hard which should increase the zip in the pitch somewhat. CRC aren't in action this weekend which is why there are no updates from them.
16.10 The first booking of the afternoon goes to Graeme Armstrong for a nasty late tackle on Aiden Palmer.
16.13 We've just doubled the number of shots on targets for the afternoon as Clare's weak header is straight at Brown. United bring the ball away and Willock is offside, not for the first time today.
16.15 United finally get a short on target, fifty minutes in. Russell's freekick is flicked across goal by Saah and Danny Crow is too stretched to make a good contact on the ball. Gateshead win a corner on the break after Parkinson breaks into space past Aiden Palmer.
16.19 United suddenly spark into life as Russell gets to the byeline and sees his cross just diverted away from Willock, before Scott Neilson scuffs when well placed. That's Russell's last action as he and Calum Willock make way for Lee Phillips and Antonio Murray.
16.28 Almost ten minutes after the last event of note, Danny Crow wins a corner on the left. Brian Saah meets the corner and heads wide, but the whistle goes for a foul anyway.
16.30 Twenty minutes left and there's very little to report on. United are the side needing to force the issue and they're failing to do so.
16.32 Daryl Clare could finish things off as he turns on the edge of the box, but it's deflected wide. Gateshead look to have a claim for a penalty but they've waved away. Adam Marriott has sixteen minutes to make an impact as he replaces Simon Russell, while Wayne Phillips is on for Peter Winn for the hosts.
16.37 United are down to ten men as Kevin Roberts looks to be in some discomfort. After a delay of a few minutes, the right back is stretched off, to generous applause from both sets of supporters. The suggestion is that it's an ankle injury.
16.40 United should be level as Aiden Palmer surges through the defence before teeing up Antonio Murray. His effort is well saved down low by Farman and Palmer is following up as one of three attacking players, but he blazes over from eight yards.
16.41 PENALTY. GOAL Gateshead 2-0 CUFC. Wayne Phillips' cross is cleared to Parkinson, who hooks his effort towards goal, only to see it clearly handled by Rory McAuley. Clear penalty, and Daryl Clare powers the ball past Simon Brown to surely seal things.
16.44 Brian Wake comes on for Graeme Armstrong with under six minutes to go.
16.48 Wayne Phillips commits a silly foul on Rory McAuley near the corner flag, and there are appeals for a United penalty from Saah's header but nothing's given. Gateshead break as Daryl Clare eases past Aiden Palmer before winning a corner.
16.49 Only four minutes are added on, slightly surprising that it's no more after the long stoppage for Roberts' injury.
16.52 More treatment for a United player as Rory McAuley receives treatment for a head wound. Brian Wake goes into the book for kicking the ball away. That's it though, a second consecutive performance from United that will take very few plaudits.
FULL TIME: Gateshead 2-0 CUFC.
Matt Ramsay
