Tommy Craig commented:

Two weeks after recording our best win of the season with a 3-0 home success over Middlesbrough, our reserve side completed a rare double with a deserved victory in the return fixture at Central Avenue, home of Northern League side Billingham Synthonia.

Striker Guy Bates got off the mark for the season with a goal in each half for Tommy Craig's side, the first a header after 34 minutes from a Martin Brittain corner which was weakly parried by the 'keeper.

That had come three minutes after the timely intervention of United defender Phil Cave on the goal line had prevented the home side taking the lead.

Newcastle had further chances in the second period to extend their lead, with efforts from Bates, McClen, Guy, O'Brien and N'Zogbia. 

However they were grateful to 'keeper Adam Bartlett just before the hour mark, as he smothered a Daniel Graham effort.

And having put a header narrowly wide on 81 minutes, Bates belatedly sealed the win with 6 minutes remaining.

Good work from McClen and Brennan saw the Magpies break quickly down the right flank, Bates eluding his marker to work a shooting position.

Boro 'keeper Knight was equal to his first effort, but when the ball fell back to Bates, he worked an angle in the box to dive the ball home into the far corner of the net.

Mention must be made of the decent playing surface at Central Avenue, which aided our passing game - in stark contrast to the awful Kingston Park surface)

Unlike the side which beat the smoggies on Tyneside two weeks ago, we recorded another victory without the likes of Ameobi, Milner, Harper or Ambrose lending a hand.

And the confidence engendered from back to back wins and clean sheets will hopefully carry over to 2005, when we resume with an away game against Birmingham City on January 6th. 

The best United performer over the game as a whole was Charles N'Zogbia, who was making his fourth start at this level but the first since early in the season.

Occupying a central midfield spot, the young Frenchman popped up in both defence and midfield, supplying some intelligent passes and one or two half-decent tackles.

Ninety minutes under his belt won't have done him any harm and he looks set to be involved in the first team squad over the coming series of holiday fixtures.