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Conditions:  

Crowd: 789, some of whom preferred to remain in the bar area after half time to watch the mackems on the telly. First teamers there under the gaze of Robson and Wadsworth included Dyer, Cordone, Bassedas, Solano. And Serrant. Young Bernard was also there, but had a small problem gaining access to the stand when the security guard didn't seem to know who he was....   

Referee: The always amusing Mr Tiffin, accompanied this time by a mackem linesman. 

Teams: 

NUFC: (normal home kit) Karelse, McGuffie, Glass, Beharall, Marcelino, Kerr, Gavilan, Green (Boyd 68 mins), Amoebi, Lua Lua, Dimas (Bonvin 81 mins)
Subs n/u: Brain, G.Caldwell, Coppinger
Booked: Ameobi 27 mins "visual dissent."
 
BCFC: (normal home kit) Davison, Lo Piccolo, Emanuel, Kerr, Bolton (Dufton 67 mins), Myers, Hardy, Fishlock, Rankin, Blake, Jones (Lee 60 mins).  
Subs n/u: Worsnop, McGahey. Tyson was named as a sub, but sustained a hamstring injury pre-match and wasn't sighted.
Booked: Kerr 13 mins, kicking ball away.

14 mins. Shola Ameobi header from Kerr's cross from the left. 1-0
31 mins. Speculative cross/shot from Giuseppe Lo Piccolo that seemed to be lofted by the wind and dropped over Karelse. 1-1

Halftime: NUFC 1 BCFC 1

82 mins. Dreadful attempted backpass from McGuffie that was short of both Karelse and covering defender Beharall. Robbie Blake seized on the chance and despite being jockeyed for position by the defender, managed to shoot past the keeper from 10 yards into the far corner of the net. 1-2.

Final Score: NUFC 1 BCFC 2

Rather than drone on about all the chances we missed, i'll just supply the simple stat that we scored once, had too many half-chances to count and spurned 17 good goalscoring opportunities. The City keeper made good stops from Ameobi and McGuffie, but was by no means run ragged. Gavilan contrived to miss two opportunities within 30 seconds, the second time hitting the bar from approx 4 yards out................

We said: United No 2. Mick Wadsworth said: 

"We absolutely murdered Bradford and apart from our finishing we could not find fault with the players.

I felt sorry for our coach Tommy Craig because our football and commitment was very good but of course finishing is a very important part of the game."

Waffle: 

Bradford, one of the few teams with a worse record in this league, claimed their first victory of the season. Quite how they managed will forever remain a mystery known only to those players who contrived to convert only one goal against a visiting defence composed of children and those not far away from being labelled journeymen.

Certainly the Newcastle reserve coach Tommy Craig was mightily disappointed that a golden chance to notch up only our second victory was tossed away. He trotted out the usual mantra of hard work going unrewarded, but was visibly choked.

It's unclear what signs Bobby Robson and Mick Wadsworth were trying to take from in this match, with the latter making frequent trips from his seat down to the home dugout to discuss matters with Craig.

However, it's difficult to see what they learned in relation to those vying for a vacant first team spot. Neither Centre back should be considered for Highbury, with Beharall and Marcelino both in the early stages of a comeback, and the only one of the defenders who looked halfway capable of filling a role was Stephen Glass playing as an makeshift left back.

In midfield and up front, both Dimas and Ameobi had been on the losing side in weekend Academy games, and while Shola seemed to have the proverbial rocket up his hindquarters from the off, he was unable to add to his single early goal. He could yet earn a place on the bench at Arsenal, but the other striker in the squad who has briefly been in the first team this season was never called upon to leave the subs bench. Precisely what good that does Jamie Coppinger is open to question....

Next we turn to the profligate Gavilan, who just doesn't look as if he's progressing, and seems afraid to attempt the dribbles that made him a prospect when he arrived on the scene last season. If only the same could be said of Lua Lua, who so far has suffered from the curse of a favourable NUFC.com write-up. His twinkle-toed exhibitionism may bamboozle Nationwide league opposition, but repeated failures to either release the ball or hit the target at this level don't instill any confidence that he can prosper at Premiership level.

Undoubtedly gifted, he needs to display far more common sense and team awareness, and a wee bit less of the three ring circus act. He's obviously not a Shearer/Cort replacement, but surely trying him out on the wing might allow him to "express himself" while still contributing to the side with his unique skills. 

Not a good night then.

Biffa