GATESHEAD must enjoy playing against York and, judging by the Knights' display yesterday, it's easy to understand why.

The Thunder won their first match in almost two years when they beat Workington a fortnight ago, their previous triumph having been against York Wasps in May 2001. And last night they claimed their second victory in three games with a 29-12 win at Huntington Stadium, thus remaining unbeaten against York since February 2001.

Knights' fans must be able to appreciate the work done by their Gateshead counterparts amid recent troubles at the Thunderdome, and they must also be able to offer a wry smile at how happy the Tynesiders must be feeling.

But that will be of mere consolation to the large York following who witnessed a dire opening to the Knights' National League Two campaign.

Paul Broadbent's men went into the game as many people's favourites for promotion to Division One, while most punters had Thunder down as potential whipping boys. But the bookies might now be getting their calculators out to reassess the odds.

The Knights' long injury list - Daz Callaghan became the latest absentee - is an obvious excuse, and this can go some way to explaining the apparent lack of co-ordination. But it does not explain it all.

Maybe they didn't expect Gateshead to show such aptitude and ebullience. Maybe they felt the pressure of favouritism. Maybe it was just a bad day.

But for whatever reason, there was not enough flair, timing or invention, while basic errors like not having an acting-half at a play-the-ball came into it too. Perhaps worse, it seemed the hosts were also out-enthused.

Granted, chances went begging, while most of Gateshead's points came against the run of play. However, York should have been able to break down an over-worked defence, especially in the second half when it took the visitors 16 minutes to get out of their own half. Yet it was they who found it easier to pick holes.

Credit must go to this young Thunder side. They played an expansive, pacey game and their zealous defence belied their predicted status as wooden spoon contenders, while their enthusiasm more than made up for their lack of years. But this barely appeased Broadbent.

If there was complacency, it may have grown at the onset as Gateshead's kick-off went out on the full, helping set York on an attack which saw Trevor Krause and Mick Ramsden go close.

But eyebrows were raised when Paul Thorman booted the visitors ahead on nine minutes, and worried glances infiltrated home support as visiting winger Robin Peers saw a try ruled out for a foot in touch following a break down the opposite flank by the speedy Richie Barnett.

A minute later, though, those fears turned to cheers as Gareth Lloyd brushed off one man and surged through down the left, Adam Thaler converting. It appeared that 6-2 lead would be extended when Scott Rhodes made the break and fed Mick Ramsden, who put in the onrushing Chris Smith, but the pass was forward.

Those glances of apprehension returned when Thorman's high bomb was collected by Kevin Neighbour, who touched down unchallenged, Thorman converting. And that apprehension turned to anxiety and then dread by half-time.

Firstly, former Knights trialist Jermaine Coleman - who won the battle of the stand-offs with Thaler - gave a sharp pass to see Craig Firth cross, and then Damian Reed got the ball out for Barnett to turn on the boosters.

York came out for the second period looking fired up and they kept Thunder pinned back. Smith went close and, after more pressure, Krause did the runaround with Rich Hayes and delayed the pass to see Thaler in, only for the ball to go to ground.

Amazingly, Gateshead's first foray into York territory in the second half saw Aussie hooker Scott MacDougall waltz through.

Smith and Thaler then did well only for Thaler to be held up over the line before York finally got the score they deserved, Hayes and Broadbent seeing Rikki Sheriffe, in off the wing, go over near the posts, Thaler goaling.

Broadbent himself had been a doubt with a calf injury but played the bulk of the game, perhaps staying on longer than he would have liked in a bid to cajole his troops into greater action.

But other than that, whatever his side tried didn't quite work and the comeback ended quickly as Thorman slotted over a drop goal.

That 66th-minute point came from Gateshead's second second half raid into York's half and from their next real attack MacDougall waltzed over again, Thorman converting.

The strangely ineffective Krause was hobbling at the end, but hopefully will be fit for Monday's trip to Sheffield - a game which now takes on added significance. The Knights surely can't afford this injury list to get any longer.

Match Facts

Knights: Smith 6, Beever 6, Lloyd 6, Clarke 5, Sheriffe 6, Thaler 5, Rhodes 6, Broadbent 7, Krause 5, Hayes 7, Ramsden 6, Fletcher 5, Robinson 6.

Subs (all used): Blaymire 6, Molloy 6, Burland 6, Bolus 6.

Tries: Lloyd 22, Sheriffe 63.

Conversions: Thaler 22, 63.

Gateshead: Neigh-bour, Peers, Reed, Firth, Barnett, Coleman, P Thorman, Bates, MacDougall, Bates, Brown, Rutherford, Walker.

Subs (all used): Bradley, Billings, Lauriston, N Thorman.

Tries: Neighbour 28, Firth 33, Barnett 39, MacDougall 57, 70.

Conversions: P Thorman 28, 33, 70.

Penalties: P Thor-man 10.

Drop Goals: P Thorman 66.

Man of the match: Richie Hayes - the captain battered and bulldozed in vain.

Referee: Steve Addy (Huddersfield).

Penalty count: 9-7

HT: 6-18

Attendance: 1,271

Updated: 11:26 Saturday, April 19, 2003