Gateshead 1, City 2

WITH one sweet swing of the left foot, Billy Clarke offered an emphatic reminder of his goal-scoring quality.

There were several encouraging cameos to emerge from the north-east sun on Saturday but could any turn out to be more significant than the Irishman's clinical volley?

It was the moment that lit up a low-grade friendly – and gave the travelling fans, who impressively made up a third of the crowd at the vast Gateshead International Stadium, a glimpse of the Clarke we all want to see again.

This was the Clarke of two seasons ago; the top scorer who finished the campaign with a rush of goals and looked a threat with any opportunity.

Rewind to the campaign just gone and he looked a striker devoid of belief at times when the chances went begging.

It is no coincidence that City managed such a paltry goal return for a team finishing top five when Clarke was suffering his own crisis of confidence around the penalty area.

So even at this early stage, the sight of him peeling off his marker to bury Mark Marshall's cross with the confidence of old will be a real positive for Stuart McCall.

There were other pleasing aspects for the manager against Neil Aspin's National League opponents, mainly in a first half that City dominated.

Nicky Law and Timothee Dieng took a fierce grip on midfield and seemed to have all the time in the world to get on the ball and pick a pass.

Marshall on the right also had the bit between his teeth and delivered several examples of proper wing play.

The best cross of the lot – a teasing, bending effort for James Hanson to bullet over – unfortunately resulted in nothing.

But he tied up former Barnsley left back George Smith in knots at times, especially in supplying Paul Anderson for a simple diving header after Marshall's centre had removed the keeper from the equation.

After the predictable trialist fest at Guiseley, McCall had fielded a side that, give or take James Meredith and Filipe Morais, could effectively be the starting line-up against Port Vale in just under three weeks.

Morais was one of the raft of substitutions around the hour mark and wasted no time in transferring some eye-catching efforts on the training ground on to the main stage.

Meredith sat this one out as a precaution over a tight calf. In fact, there was an entire back four looking on from the bench, where he was joined by Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle and James King.

Nathan Clarke and Nathaniel Knight-Percival, the central pairing who will start the season, played together for the first time in front of debutant Colin Doyle.

Unfortunately, the big goalkeeper did not have the most comfortable of occasions.

It started with a slice straight into touch and four minutes in there was a potentially calamitous mix-up with Clarke.

Neither dealt with Liam Hogan's long ball into the box and Reece Styche should have hit the target with the goal gaping.

City responded quickly from that early scare to take command.

Hanson headed against the bar before strike partner Clarke broke the deadlock with a finish that received well-earned applause from the locals.

Gateshead could not seem to lay a finger on City's midfield, allowing Law to run into the box at will and Marshall plenty of room to roam.

The winger, looking to bounce back from a difficult first year at Valley Parade, showed his intentions again right on the break. His cross drew keeper Sam Johnson from his goal and Anderson, who otherwise had a quiet game, did the rest at the back post.

Gateshead improved after the break with their changes, including top scorer Ryan Bowman.

There were also a few familiar Halifax faces among Aspin's ranks – he has made 14 signings since ripping up the squad he inherited halfway through last season.

City's second-half substitutions included Friday's recruit Jordy Hiwula, who looked eager up front with Reece Webb-Foster. One chance fell to him 15 yards out but he rapped it over the bar trying to get too much on his shot.

Liam Agnew was the only trialist on display, trying again to earn a contract with the Bantams. But the midfielder will not have helped his cause with a tame first touch right in front of goal after a skilful jink from Morais had put it on a plate.

With nine changes possible, two in the City ranks still had to go the distance.

Nathan Clarke, after that initial wobble, had a solid game and cleared off the line to deny James Bolton as Gateshead rallied towards the end.

Teenager Kwame Boateng had to play the full afternoon on his 'wrong' side. Usually a right back, he was pressed into duty on the left as the cover for Meredith.

The youngster's tiredness showed a minute into added time when he trailed a tired leg at Wes York, giving Bowman the chance to halve City's advantage from the penalty spot.

City: Doyle (Cracknell 61), McMahon (Windle 76), N Clarke, Knight-Percival (Laird 76), Boateng, Marshall (Morais 61), Law (Payne 76), Dieng (Devine 61), Anderson (Agnew 61), Hanson (Webb-Foster 61), B Clarke (Hiwula 61).