Our Reserve side returned to action at Hyde's Ewen Fields on Tuesday, but lost out to league leaders Manchester City by the odd goal in five in another entertaining contest.

There was an early scare for the visitors in the opening minutes, as Steve Harper came to collect a 50/50 ball and collided with Vuoso. While both players remained on the ground and required treatment, the City forward was quickly on his feet. Harps by contrast looked to be in pain, clutching his knee as physio Paul Ferris attempted to treat him. 

After a couple of minutes the keeper was able to continue, albeit in some discomfort. This didn't prevent him later making two decent saves and it's expected he'll be available for selection on Saturday. 

City took the lead after 25 minutes when the tricky Algerian Djamel Belmardi, on loan from Marseille, rifled in a 20-yarder after picking up a loose ball in midfield, advancing towards goal as our defenders stood off. Steve Harper had little chance with the shot.

We only really came into the game in the last 15 minutes of the first half, with a Robbie Elliott free-kick and a header going just wide. But a one-goal deficit at the break was about all we deserved with our midfield in particular looking a little weak and the team in general showing the effects of an extended layoff.

We fared a little better in the opening exchanges of the second half but shortly after Gavilan had replaced Bassedas, City doubled their lead. £5m signing Jon Macken found a bit of space and drove in an angled shot from the edge of the box which Harper got a hand to but couldn't quite keep out. 

However, two goals in four minutes from Bradley Orr and Lomana LuaLua got us back into the game. Chopra was replaced by Joe Kendrick and a minute later Orr hit a fine curling right-foot effort into the top right corner.

LuaLua was then tripped in the box by Mettomo, who didn't contest the foul but hilariously tried to claim the offence was outside the area. Lua got up to convert the resultant penalty kick, hitting it low into the middle of the goal. 

However with United looking as if they could snatch three points from City, Belmardi went on a jinking run into our box in the 92nd minute and found Chris Shuker, who prodded home a close -range winner. While Shuker got the goal, the applause and congratulation was rightly directed at the creator and on the back of this performance the midfielder could make his Premiership debut at St.James'- probably as a sub. 

The defeat was only our second reverse in seven away games this season, and after shaking off some early ring-rustiness Newcastle can consider themselves slightly unfortunate to have left empty-handed.

The returning Titus Bramble will no doubt be relieved to have got a ninety minute runout under his belt, but looks in need of another game or two at this level to sharpen up before even being considered for a first team recall. He was on the spot in the 8th minute though to clear a Ritchie shot off the Newcastle line.

Carl Cort also played the full game and while he didn't contribute a great deal, at least has completed another competitive ninety minutes with no apparent problem.

PS - Nice to see the advert for Alan J Bradley Funeral Directors still in place on the stand - but surely he died under the wheels of a Blackpool tram in Coronation Street some years ago? 

Biffa 

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