The game was as good as over after 10 minutes, by which time Terriers full back James Lang had stolen into the United box twice within three minutes and taken advantage of lame defending to find the net on each occasion.

After that double setback Newcastle gradually recovered to put the home side under occasional pressure, but Lewis Guy's miss from Richard Offiong's defence-splitting pass on 24 minutes was as close as they came.

While we enjoyed more possession, a lack of quality in both passing and dead ball situations meant that we seldom looked like making a fight of it against the more committed and composed Northern League side.

And when United captain Peter Ramage did get the ball in the net with a close-range shot in the final seconds of the half, the referee disallowed the goal for an apparent foul on the Terriers 'keeper.

A rearrangement at half time by the visitors saw the anonymous Howe and Offiong replaced by wide men O'Brien and Brittain, with Ferrell restored to his more familiar central midfield role.

However any thoughts of a comeback were dispelled seven minutes into the second half when Bedlington hit man and former toon junior John Milner netted his 6th goal in this season's competition, lifting the ball over the advancing Bartlett and into the net.

Confirmation that this wasn't to be our night came on 76 minutes, when  Ferrell's goal-bound effort got past the 'keeper, only for Dixon to pop up and knock the ball clear of the goal line.

And our ill-fortune continued 3 minutes later, when striker Carl Finnigan went for a header in midfield and fell awkwardly with no Terriers player in the vicinity.

Clutching his knee, the academy player was helped from the field and then to the dressing room via a stretcher.

With our three subs already utilised, that meant we had to play the last 10 minutes a man short - as we had the last time we lost in this competition, on this ground in 2001 when Jamie McClen was red-carded.

And a terrible night was rounded off with 8 minutes remaining, when Cockburn's trickery allowed him to get to the byline and whip over a cross that substitute Martin Brittain inadvertently knocked into his own net.

So a comprehensive defeat for our lads, who had been weakened by the forced withdrawal of Bradley Orr and Steven Taylor hours before the tie as cover for the UEFA Cup squad.

Had they featured along with someone like Brian Kerr it may have been a different story, but as it was we were outgunned and second-best in all departments to a more experienced set of players used to the undulating playing surface - depressing for us, refreshing for the non-leaguers.