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Date: Mon
9th April 2001, 7pm.
Venue: Kingston
Park
Conditions:
Scattered showers, giving way to constant rain in the second half
and a cold wind. I love Kingston Park in the Springtime....
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Newcastle
United |
2
- 1 |
Manchester
United |
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Teams |
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30 mins
A break down the right saw LuaLua neatly avoid a
challenge to flick the ball on to the advancing Gavilan. His cross
picked out Pablo Bonvin in the visitors penalty area, and
he swiveled and volleyed home in one movement past a helpless Van
Der Gouw
1-0
36 mins.
A free kick was awarded in a central
position following a foul on LuaLua. Stuart Green flighted the
ball into the Man U area, where it was met by the head of Stevie
Caldwell for a deserved 2-0 lead. 2-0
Half time: Newcastle
2 Man Utd 0
63 mins A mix up in the Newcastle defence ended with
Andy
Griffin smacking the ball against Steve Caldwell only inches off the
line, and seeing it drop past Karelse.
2-1
Full time:
Newcastle
2 Man Utd 1
30 mins 1-0 to Newcastle
36 mins 2-0 to Newcastle
63 mins Man Utd get a goal back
Coach Tommy Craig commented:
"In
the first half we were good value for our lead, we were the better team
and played some good stuff and looked like scoring on a number of
occasions.
"But
the two goals we got were very good ones. Bonvin's was very well executed
and Steve Caldwell's came from a good set-piece.
"But
in the second half we made things a bit difficult for ourselves because we
got bogged down and did not pass the ball as well as we can.
"They
crept back into the game and got the goal we never seem to get and for a
20-25 minute period in the second half they put us under some pressure.
"But
we showed mental toughness to get the results and I was pleased at the end
that we were getting out of our own half and creating chances.
"We
had over 1,400 people here for the game and we've had a loyal band of fans
that have followed us all season, so it was nice to end our home league
fixtures with a win."
Nowt... the
huffy beggars.
It all came right for Tommy Craig's men in their final league game
at Kingston Park, at least for the first 45 minutes on Monday
night.
In front of the MUTV cameras, beaming the action out to all those
loyal reds in Croydon, Newcastle dominated proceedings after a
slow start, and were two goals ahead by the break.
However, one good save from Karelse and some committed defending
saw the Magpies home, with the opportunity for further goals from
Glass and Gavilan.
The returning Dabizas had a trouble-free ninety minutes, made one
timely intervention in the second half to break up a Man U raid,
and even managed to get a shot on target - claims for a penalty
when an opposition defender blocked it on the line were waved
away.
Also making his first appearance in the black and white for a
while was Des Hamilton, a late sub.
Star performers for Newcastle were Stevie Caldwell, Cristian
Bassedas and Stuart Green, the latter much more at home in a
central midfield role and instrumental in much of our attacking
play in the first half. Green almost blotted his copybook in the
88th minute however, when a hefty clearance whistled just past
Bobby Robson's ear in the main stand.
The usual petty squabbles and unseemingly hoofing were exhibited
by the Manchester United side, numerous bad fouls being
overlooked by a benevolent ref. The huffy bairns also refused to
speak to their own TV station reporter after the match - obviously
well-schooled in the Fergie way.
PS - With this being the final home league
game of the season, high time that the ball boys got a mention. Kingston Park
C.A.F.C. have provided cover for every game this season, with volunteers
between the ages of 9 and 12 manning the touchlines in all weathers.
Their contribution is appreciated by at least some of the regular reserve
squad, and our correspondent Kevin R. singles out John Karelse for special
praise, the big man consistently taking time out to chat to the youngsters
and sign autographs after games. Honourable mentions also for Gary Caldwell, Ryan
McGuffie, Brian Kerr and Pablo Bonvin, all of whom completed some
memorable nights for the Kingston Park bairns.
Reserves
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