Miron Bleiberg made several changes to the side that triumphed over North Queensland Fury last Tuesday, with the most notable being the inclusion of goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan who started his first game for the club after overcoming a troublesome back injury that has blighted his pre-season regime so far.

Although they travelled with the touring party, Brazilian duo Milson and Robson, along with Ivory Coast left-back Adama Traore, were all omitted from the match-day squad after Bleiberg decided not to risk aggravating their minor muscle strains.

With Traore out, the United boss slotted utility player Steve Fitzsimmons into a left-sided defensive role alongside Kristian Rees, Bas Van Den Brink and Michael Thwaite.

In midfield, Steve Pantelidis, Adam Griffiths and Zenon Caravella provided the steel and guile, with attacking weapon Tahj Minniecon given freedom to roam behind a strike partnership of Andrew Barisic and Joel Porter.

United started brightly and took the lead in just the 5th minute when Joel Porter's far post cross was met by the unmarked Barisic who slotted home the opener.

On a lush playing surface that was given extra pace due the light rain that fell in the afternoon, United moved the ball well against a New Caledonian outfit who were no easy-beats.

In fact, Gold Coast were given one or two frights in the opening half and had Vanstrattan to thank for maintaining their lead when he saved well at the feet of New Caledonia's striker, Francis Watrone.

Minniecon, Porter and Barisic all went close to adding more goals to United's first half tally and Vanstrattan was called upon again to thwart the home side with low save following an excellent drive from Pierre Wajoka.

In the second period United were rarely threatened at the back with Van Den Brink and Rees proving to be an excellent central pairing, and it seemed only a matter of time before they doubled their lead.

The decisive second goal involved both of Miron Bleiberg's first substitutions of the night and arrived in the 68th minute. A superb passing move culminated in Daniel Piorkowski's pin-point cross being met powerfully at the near post by Matt Osman who steered his header past Ounemoa in the home side's goal.

The superior fitness of the United troops began to tell and it was virtually one-way traffic for the rest of the match. Few were surprised when Gol Gol Mebrahtu rounded the 'keeper to make it 3-0 in the 78th minute, and soon after Mebrahtu combined with United's other youngsters, Mitch Bevan and Steve Lustica, to set up Pantelidis for his second goal in two outings.

Mebrahtu almost scored the goal of the night following a neat turn and shot that rattled back off the post, but vice captain Michael Thwaite had the last word adding the fifth right at the death when he headed home Osman's deep free-kick.

United head back to the Gold Coast tomorrow before embarking on the next leg of their overseas tour on Monday when they fly out to Singapore followed by Hong Kong.