Hunter is on target to help sink Mariners as Heed get both victory and a clean sheet

GATESHEAD recorded their first clean sheet and win in pre-season following Jack Hunter’s secondhalf intervention during yesterday’s friendly with South Shields.

The midfield man had dropped back into the back three after Alex Nicholson suffered a facial injury.

Former Newcastle trainee Hunter, however, was in the right place a the right time to score the only goal of a hard-fought encounter, which had to be played behind closed doors.

Nicky Deverdics’ 63rd-minute measured corner kick saw Hunter steal a march on marker Alex Kempster. A firm close-range near post header gave Myles Boney in the Mariners goal no chance.

Gateshead were strong in the opening 45 minutes as they dominated possession and pressed well.

Given that it was only their third work-out their ability on the ball and movement was impressive.

They could have been ahead in the opening minute. Greg Olley threaded a through ball to Macaulay Langstaff that left the summer signing in on goal.

The former York City striker however couldn’t beat Boney, who advanced well to block. A rampant

Heed gave Shields the run around early on, but lacked the cutting edge to finish off their good work.

Langstaff got in behind to flash a centre across goal that went unheeded. Good work from Langstaff and Smith then saw the latter’s cross just evade the lurking Jordan Preston.

Smith then headed wide of the goal from Deverdics’ free-kick following a Nathan Lowe foul on Olley.

Langstaff played in Preston on the left of the box and the Yorkshireman’s diagonal drive was pushed away by Boney.

Deverdics then clipped a free-kick wide of the far post before Lowe registered South

Shields’ first effort at goal.

That came in the 45th minute, a long-distance strike that failed to threaten the home goal.

After Hunter’s decisive contribution the Mariners almost levelled through substitute Lee Mason.

The striker took Josh Gillies’ set-play to curl a fine shot against the bar with the Heed’s trialist keeper beaten.

It was the closest the Mariners came in their final warm-up game ahead of the new season.

Gateshead will now stage a training ground game against Darlington before they wind up their pre-season campaign at home to Hartlepool.