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Newcastle United	2 - 0	Liverpool
Half time:	0 - 0
Score Sheet:
Bonvin (53) Gavilan (90+1)
	Teams
John Karelse Ryan McGuffie Stephen Glass Gary Caldwell David Beharall Jamie McClen Diego Gavilan Mark Boyd Lomana LuaLua Carl Cort Pablo Bonvin	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Pegguy Arphexad Alan Navarro  Gregory Vignal Paul Culshaw Djimi Traore   Chris O'Brien Richie Partridge John Miles Daniel Sjolund Stephen Warnock Bernard Diomede NB: Patrick Berger appeared on the teamsheet at 10 but was subsequently withdrawn.
Substitutes:
Joe Kendrick for Bonvin (76) James Coppinger for Cort (80) Colin McMenamin for LuaLua (83)		Ian Armstrong for O'Brien (60) Stephen McNulty for Traore (68)
Subs not used:
Jonathon Brain Stephen Brennan		Peter Crookes Chris Thompson Kevin Doherty
Bookings:
None		None
Referee: S Proctor-Green
Attendance: 1813, a four-fold increase on the previous home game against Everton, despite there being virtually no publicity for this rearranged fixture.

Half time: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

53 mins. A superlative chip from Bonvin, who momentarily found himself in space outside the visitors penalty box, and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Arphexad and into the empty net. 1-0

The finish was vaguely reminiscent of a famous Beardsley goal for United against Brighton, and appropriately Peter himself was in the stand applauding Pablo's strike, while Joe Corrigan on the Liverpool bench was rather less pleased. Corrigan of course was the Brighton keeper in the Gallowgate end goal that day in 1984.

91 mins. In added time, McClen bore down on goal from the left flank and slipped a short pass to his right, directly into the path of Gavilan, who rattled home a powerful shot to seal the victory. 2-0

Full time: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 0

5 mins LuaLua and Boyd exchanged passes before the former tried a shot from just outside the area that wasn't too wide of the mark.

8 mins The renewed commitment by Bonvin was exemplified by his persistence as he rode two tackles before feeding Cort on the right. The returning striker tried a shot from a tight angle but screwed it past the far post.

14 mins More good work from the Argentinean Bonvin, as he ran on to LuaLua's short pass and cracked in as good shot from 18 yards, just too high.

22 mins Dangerous movement from Liverpool, as the central attacking pairing of Sjolund and Warnock broke through the defence. However, Karelse was alert and saved Warnock's shot, with Sjolund bearing down on him.

25 mins Another forward foray from the Reds, Warnock beating Boyd then McGuffie down the Liverpool left, before whipping over a dangerous low centre. However, the well-placed Sjolund was unable to twist and apply a boot to the ball.

29 mins The LuaLua - Bonvin combination again, with the former Colchester man once again setting his colleague away for a shot on goal - this time deflected for a corner.

30 mins From the resultant corner, United kept the ball on the edge of the Liverpool area with a succession of passes, until eventually a cross was knocked down by Cort for Gary Caldwell (who had come forward for the corner) to try a first-time shot that the goalkeeper claimed.

44 mins The best chance of the game fell to Cort, after LuaLua made a darting run down the United right and sent over a perfect cross. Somehow Cort powered his downward header the wrong side of the upright when it seemed easier to score.

53 mins  1-0 to United (see above)

63 mins A break from inside their own half enabled Sjolund and Vignal to leave the United defence stranded while remaining onside, but when they both bore down on Karelse's goal and Vignal shot, Karelse was able to block the effort.

66 mins Vignal again linked up with the attack and  went past McClen on the Liverpool right before picking out the incoming Diomede on the left side of the United area. However he was shadowed by Gavilan, who covered his run and conceded a corner with a well-timed block.

69 mins In response to increased Liverpool pressure, United reverted to a back four formation, with Glass dropping back.

73 mins After a strong challenge, Bonvin limped from the field and United played with ten men until Kendrick was brought on three minutes later. Coach Tommy Craig chose to play the youngster in left midfield, opting to leave Glass at the back.

82 mins Liverpool kept up their pressure for an equaliser, Diomede popping up on the right to release Sjolund for a run on goal. However Karelse once again was equal to the shot.

85 mins Further attacks for United to repel, substitute Armstrong shooting on goal from 20 yards after a quick breakaway. Karelse blocked the effort, and Gary Caldwell's presence ensured the Sjolund was unable to capitalise on the loose ball.

91 mins 2-0 to United (see above)

Tommy Craig commented:

"I thought our two centre-halves and two central midfield players, Mark Boyd and Jamie McClen were outstanding last night, we've really tightened up at the back these past three games.

"Gary and David aren't taking any chances now and if they're in danger they're playing the simple ball. They realise if the ball's got to go it's got to go.

"We're now pressing the ball really well front to back and I've also got to give John Karelse in a goal a big pat on the back. He kept his nerve and made some important saves."

Returning striker Carl Cort told a gaggle of pressmen:

"It's great to be back, and I felt no reaction to the injury at all. I'm happy to play against Middlesbrough if that's what the Manager wants - and the sooner i'm back in the first team the better."

Reds coach Joe Corrigan commented:

"The difference between the two sides was that they were more street-wise than us. They had a lot of experienced lads in their side, including Carl Cort, and they were always going to be difficult opposition.

"From our point of view we were in the game until the last minute when they broke away and scored a second with virtually the last kick of the match. It was disappointing to lose but we can take a lot out of the performance.

"I thought Pegguy was fantastic in goal, making a number of excellent saves. Stephen Warnock was a late addition to the team on the left of midfield but he performed really well. He’s a very talented young player and he showed what he is capable of with a good all-round display. Paul Culshaw at the back also played well and came out of the game with a lot of credit.

"It’s never nice to lose games but when you can take plus points from them you can regard it is a learning exercise and that’s the most important thing at this level."

After struggling for most of the season to get out of the habit of leaking goals and win matches, the Newcastle reserves recorded their third win and clean sheet in a row at Kingston Park on Monday evening.

While Carl Cort made a welcome return to the playing staff after his seven month absence, the architects of this victory were the same group of players who have represented Newcastle at this level all season. The difference that getting into a winning habit has made was evident from all sections of the pitch - McGuffie looks far more confident at full back for example, while Bonvin undoubtedly benefited from playing behind a central striker rather than leading the line. 

The young Argentinean also looked as if a sizeable boot had been firmly placed behind him, being more involved in the game from the first whistle than of late, and scoring a great goal that richly deserved the acclaim of the crowd.

Gary Caldwell again showed the form that has seen him follow brother Steve into the Scotland U21 squad, while Beharall's performance at the back (both as part of a centre back trio and later as a conventional back four) drew praise from the watching Bobby Robson.

Significantly, LuaLua again showed his best side when in a wide position - maybe there's a place there in the senior side for him to supply the service to Cort?

Another good representation of first team squad members was on hand to watch the latest episode in the reserve renaissance, with a duffle-coated Goma mixing in the bar with Liverpool's French contingent, no doubt crowing about how much money he'd be banking for moving to Fulham. Rather less smug was Olivier Bernard, omitted from the side and contemplating a spell on loan at Darlington. Cordone again appeared, along with a spectacle-wearing Acuna and old favourite Peter Beardsley, in the company of some of his new charges from the youth Academy.

Reserves