Andy Parkinson scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's 3-0 win against Gateshead by burying the rebound after Danny Crow was denied by a second half goal line clearance, but he was more pleased about being on the winning side.

"Never mind getting a goal - I'm happier with the win," stated the 30-year-old. "Obviously we have lost our first two home games of the season, so this was all about the three points and not so much about the performance, but we were fortunate to get the performance as well as the three points and we are delighted with that.

"We were pretty much in control right the way through the game, we attacked and defended well as a unit, which is what we have been working on in training."

Having missed most of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the 30-year-old is glad to have got a full pre-season under his belt and to be playing a full part as new boss Martin Ling begins to stamp his mark on the side.

"The manager wants us to pass the ball and play a fluid attacking game, and I felt today we've done that as well as defending really well as a team; getting two banks of four behind the ball and stopping them counter attacking us. All around it was a pleasing performance - nothing to get carried away with but great to get the first home three points on the board."

Gateshead were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute when they were trailing 2-0, and while United often struggle against ten men, Saturday was different.

"We've struggled against ten men in the past but it helped that when their man went it wasn't at nil-nil or with them a goal up, so there wasn't really any pressure on us to break them down," noted Parky.

"But overall there wasn't really a doubt where the three points were going and getting back-to-back clean sheets as well as the goals were real positives. Hopefully this will give us a good base to kick on and start our season properly."

United are in action again at Rushden & Diamonds today and he added, "We've had five games in fourteen days, which is tough, and that's followed by this weekend with two games in three days so the games come thick and fast.

"But we have good fitness levels as well as good young athletes in the team, which, along with the blend of experience, can only be plus points. If we use that to our advantage will take us a long way."

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

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