After opening up their season with a pair of wins during which they netted eleven times, the goals dried up for United's second string at Whitley Park on Friday night. 

What proved to be the only goal of the game came five minutes into the second half, when Southampton midfielder Sam McQueen beat Jak Alnwick from 12 yards.

That scoreline was just about deserved for the visitors, who made light of a seven hour coach trip to Tyneside by looking livelier and more organised than United - ensuring that Alnwick was the busier of the 'keepers throughout.

An even opening passage of play saw chances at both ends, Alnwick denying Sam Hoskins and United forward JJ Hooper then shaving a Saints post on 20 minutes.  Southampton threatened again just before the half hour and Alnwick was quickly off his line to deny McQueen as the home defence were caught napping.

Sammy Ameobi made a return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season and it was his astute forward ball down the United left on 37 minutes that gave Adam Campbell space to burst forward.

Finding Brad Inman with a sideways ball infield, the Aussie midfielder unselfishly opted to funnell it along to Hooper on the overlap. Sadly though, JJ's effort missed the target.

The final action of the first half then saw Alnwick watch Ben Reeves glance a free kick from out on the Saints right off the top of the crossbar.

Just five minutes after the restart though, Jak was picking the ball out of his net and sadly, his outfield colleagues seldom looked like forcing opposite number Cody Cropper to do likewise in the remaining 40 minutes.

Too many attacking attempts ended with over-hit balls or possession surrendered cheaply, as our service into the box from open play or dead balls was invariably poor. 

A double replacement late on looked to inspire United into seeking an equaliser, with Cropper palming Inman's effort away before Sammy Ameobi had an effort blocked in the six yard box after reacting first to a rebound. 

However there's an ideal opportunity for a swift reaction from Willie Donachie's side, when they return to action on Tuesday night in the Tyne-wear reserve derby.

Biffa

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