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Newcastle Kids Taught A Lesson By Gateshead

10 years ago
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Hopefully it is just part of the learning curve for some of Newcastle United’s promising young players, but a United reserve team were given a right run around by the team who play in black and white on the other side of the Tyne.

The night started with the 1,514 crowd observing an immaculate one minute’s silence for Liam Sweeney and John Alder, the latter a season ticket holder at both Newcastle and Gateshead. The players of both sides lining up with black armbands on.

With the first team on their way to New Zealand and Ben Arfa & Marveaux banned from first team training and playing in this friendly, it was left to only Gael Bigirimana and Shane Ferguson to represent those with first team experience.

The friendly was also a testimonial for long serving defender James Curtis and he must have enjoyed playing in a Gateshead team that outclassed the opposition.

The Heed dominated both possession and chances and could have been three goals up in the first fifteen minutes, though it was actually eighteen minutes before ex-Newcastle trainee Marcus Maddison lashed the ball home from just inside the box after United were caught in possession.

Newcastle forced Gateshead’s keeper Adam Bartlett, another ex-Newcastle player, into a save finally from Shane Ferguson, but it was two goals up on the half hour when Greg McDermott headed home. Terry’s son no doubt gaining extra satisfaction with Peter Beardsley sitting in the opposing dugout.

This was Gateshead’s third match in only four days so maybe no surprise that they chose to cruise through the second half against minimal opposition, though United did at least produce one near thing in that second period thanks to Quinn.

Otherwise though it was Gateshead well on top, only the amount of chances decreasing as they were content to keep the ball. Though it could and should have been three when Rankine could only hit the woodwork late on.

Well done to James Curtis for so many great years at Gateshead and good luck to our neighbours across the Tyne in the coming season. Though maybe the ‘good lucks’ should be heading the other way based on this inequal contest!

Gateshead 2 Newcastle Utd Xl 0

Newcastle United: Pearson, Williams (Smith 46), Ferguson, Streete (McKinnon 58), Gillesphey, Bigirimana, Barlaser, Quinn, Drennan, Gilliead (Heardman 46), Roberts

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