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Referee:  R.Tiffin

Teams: 

DCFC: (blue/yellow halved shirts, blue shorts) Wolfe, Tinkler (Canavan 55 mins), Hunt, Pearson, Coxall, Moon, Brightwell (Leadbitter 81 mins), Di Lella (Dawson 55 mins), Outhwaite, Symons (Bowes 55 mins), Irvine (Huntley 81 mins).  
Subs n/u: Bell, Powell.

NUFC: (normal home kit) Harper, Caldwell G, Caldwell S, Kerr, Glass (Boyd 59 mins), Green, McClen, Dyer (Hamilton 46 mins), Gavilan, Coppinger, McMahon (Ameobi 46 mins)
Subs n/u: Grindlay.

14 mins. After an incident-free start in which Newcastle played a controlled short passing game but failed to pierce the Durham defence, an old-fashioned long clearance fell to Coppinger right side of the field. He centred well for Gavilan, who chose to go for glory with a first-time hoof, and saw his shot balloon over the crossbar and away into the car park.
20 mins  Glass began a move  on the left flank, moving infield to feed Coppinger with a short pass. He released the ball to the oncoming Dyer, who hit a fine shot past the 'keeper from the edge of the area. 1-0.
23 mins. A good opportunity spurned by McMahon, who placed his header into the goalie's hands after Glass had made space and centred from the left wing.
24 mins. Glass again the outlet as a Durham move broke down on the half way line. The Scotsman found Dyer with a cushioned pass, and he sent Green in on goal. Unfortunately, another wild effort found it's way over the fence rather than in the goal.
24 mins. Total domination by the visitors, and the close control of Dyer saw him turn and fire a low cross from the right side of the Durham box. McMahon connected with a shot, only to see a defender swipe the ball off the goalline.
29 mins. A dubious decision by the referee saw Hunt escape unpunished as he appeared to foul Dyer in the Durham penalty area.
35 mins. More range-finding from the boot of Stuart Green - further punishment for defenceless vehicles parked behind the Durham goal.
38 mins Belatedly Newcastle doubled their advantage from a Gavilan free kick. Di Lella stopped Dyer in his tracks around twenty five years from goal in a central position, and the Paraguayan floated the resultant free kick in off the right hand post in a replica of his goal at Scarborough the previous weekend. 2-0

Halftime: Durham 0 NUFC 2

47 mins With the crowd still settling down after the interval, good work from McMahon culminated in Glass trying his luck from just inside the area with a shot. The 'keeper parried it, but the lurking Gavilan reacted first to tuck ball home. 3-0
50 mins The turn of Kerr to try some target practice, after a Coppinger attempt was scrambled away at the foot of the post. Unfortunately the young Scot put his effort over the fence as well......
55 mins. Some robust play between both sides left Pearson of City and Green of United eyeballing each other, but tempers were soon soothed.
58 mins. Kerr managed to get his next shot on goal, but 'keeper Wolfe claimed easily. A typical twisting run from Gavilan down the right wing had created the opportunity.
62 mins. Gavilan again making headway down the right, threaded the ball through to McClen, from whom Coppinger collected a short pass in the area. His jinking run was followed by a low shot beyond the 'keeper's dive. 4-0
65 mins. A flowing Newcastle move almost brought about a picturebook goal, as Kerr galloped out of defence and across the halfway line, sterring a pass out wide left to the advancing Green. He wrapped his foot round a perfect centre, only for Ameobi to deleiver his header straight at the relieved goalkeeper.
78 mins. A rare attack from the home side, for whom Brightwell led a break into the United half. Substitute Dawson managed to evade Steve Caldwell, but his hurried shot again was too high to cause problems.
82 mins Much to his delight, Gary Caldwell got his name on the scoresheet, courtesy of a fine swerving low effort. 5-0
88 mins The easiest of finishes to wrap things up from Mark Boyd, who touched home a cross/shot from Ameobi, after the awkward forward had mesmerised the Durham rearguard as we cut in from the left, before rolling the ball goalwards. 6-0

Final Score: Durham 0 NUFC 6

Waffle: 

Given that most weeks the good citizens of Durham have to put up with the mackem reserves playing their league games here, it was a good crowd of mainly toon sympathisers who turned out on a perfect night, and went home entertained by six goals, if not an end-to-end contest.

The play of the United reserve side at times was of the highest standard, even after the departure of Dyer, and the nucleus of those on display will hopefully gain more experience from the forthcoming Premier reserve league campaign. With Glass and Hamilton becoming the senior players in side, although barely in their mid-teens, the development of Tommy Craig's current crop of youngsters should be worth keeping tabs on this season. The spectre of International callups even threatens to disrupt team selection, with both Caldwells hopeful of Scotland U21 recognition, and one or two others looking to further their claims this season, as well as Gavilan (when Bobby lets him out to play with the Paraguayan big lads.) 

Hopefully some of those spectators who brought along their children this evening will be back to support the second string up at Kingston Park in the coming months, but there can't be many who wouldn't rather be going to St.James' Park for at least some of the reserve fixtures.... 

Biffa