Cambridge United's first home goals and first home win of the season came at the third time of asking, with two goals for Chris Holroyd and a first of the season for Andy Parkinson.

Visitors Gateshead had their chances, but once United's noses were in front confidence flowed through the team and a second United goal followed by a sending-off for the visitors meant the closing stages were comfortable even before Holroyd's late penalty.

"It's nice to get a win here," said Ling afterwards. "There's been a bit of pressure with two games already played here and not managing to get a goal and not managing to get a win. We've talked in the week about this being a place that we've got to express ourselves and I think we did that today.

"It took us a little bit of time to get going but once we did I think the better side won," said the manager, who hopes that the win will help to boost confidence among the players.

"I've been in teams myself and managed teams where home results haven't been going for you. Against teams like Gateshead the home supporters expect you to win, and if the match goes through a bit of a lull you can see the players' confidence isn't at the highest level. This should help them to put them to put it back to a level."

Ling stated when he was appointed that he wants the team to 'pass with purpose' and he was pleased to see growing signs of his ideas being taken on board by the players: "In the first half, every now and then it looked like we were going to spurt into a little passing action. There would be four or five good passes and movements, and although that's not enough it's getting there and you could see that we could cut them open.

"In the second half we looked comfortable once we got the second goal but confidence is a very fragile thing and after no wins here you could see that in our play."

Although Chris Holroyd will make the headlines again after two more goals took his tally to seven so far this season, Ling was also pleased with the input of Danny Crow, who set up the second goal for Andy Parkinson although he was denied the goal himself by a goalline clearance.

"It's about partnerships, and if Chrissy goes on and gets a hatful of goals this season and his partner is doing the donkey work then it's a partnership. I know strikers want to score but Danny had a big hand in the second goal for Parky to score, who's played his first 90 minutes today and got a goal as well.

"The two players that people were telling me were in bad form - Jai Reason and Andy Parkinson - had decent games today, too. I haven't been here a long time but things are starting to take shape and I think it's a confidence thing here too. The lads are playing with confidence and with a purpose."

Ling added, "We have got good passers in that team - I see it every day in training - and it's about working on it and using it within the unit. It's another clean sheet for the back five too, which helps as well, and it's nice to get a good victory here.

"I've said that our fullbacks need to be an attacking threat and that became more and more apparent in the second half when we were on top of the game."

United's next match is at Rushden & Diamonds on Monday (kick-off 3pm, away travel information) and Ling will have the players in for training on Sunday to prepare for that game.

"It will be a tough match," he said. "They're going to be hard opposition and it's two games in quick succession as well, but it's a case of making sure their legs are as fresh as they possibly can be going into the game. They'll be working tomorrow, which is why I gave them some time off during the week, and we'll take it from there."

[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]

Make Your Click Count For The U's - talk about it on the Message Board!

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website, unless otherwise stated, is subject to copyright © and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source including all quotes.

AT090829 web@cambridge-united.co.uk