That allowed Lewis Guy to convert his first goal of the season with a low kick, sending foul-mouthed mackem 'keeper Michael Ingham the wrong way.

Newcastle continued to shade what was a close game and in the five minutes before the interval failed on three occasions to double their advantage, Ambrose and Milner failing to beat Ingham with their shots from the edge of the box, sandwiching Guy's first-time effort high over the bar when well positioned.

The second half began with some pressure from the Wearsiders, broken up by a United break on 52 minutes that saw Ambrose and Howe combine in midfield to release Milner down the right flank.

His cross was met by Ambrose, but although on target, the 'keeper was equal to the effort.

A second booking of the night came on 58 minutes as mackem Sean Thornton reacted to a Guy challenge by chasing after him and appearing to strike him - the referee showing only yellow despite being right next to the flare-up.

Next to go into the book was Newcastle's Peter Ramage, as the referee played an advantage on 63 minutes to allow Andy Welsh to test Caig with a shot, before yellow-carding in the Newcastle defender for his earlier lunge.

Caig was again in the thick of things on 72 minutes, as he collided with a visiting player while coming out of goal in an attempt to reach a centre that Brennan booted clear.

The 'keeper was ok to continue after a few minutes of treatment, with the addition of a bandage across his forehead.

Still the mackems looked vaguely threatening, but with 15 minutes left we should have sewn up the win as N'Zogbia found himself unmarked on the left side of the Sunderland box, only 12 yards from goal.

However the Frenchman, who started the night at left back, chose not to shoot and instead made a vain attempt to find Ambrose, who had his back to goal and was well marked.

That profligacy was punished barely 90 seconds later, as Sean Taylor controlled a difficult ball out wide on the right as our defence hesitated and then made for the byline, pulling it back for Chris Brown to rifle home from close range.

And the visitors almost snatched a late winner, as Taylor repeated the feat in the last minute of normal time, but his cross was deflected wide of Caig's goal.

With earlier drizzle now turning into snow flurries, the game ended on a controversial note, Matt Piper and Ambrose clashing in midfield after the ball having gone dead, the young mackem clearly attempting to kick Ambrose in the face as the two number sixes became entangled.

The referee's response was to book both players - Ambrose for either obstruction or poking his tongue out - when Piper seemed certain to be sent off.

This point has extended our unbeaten run to five, but we've now drawn all three games so far this year.

PS: An injury to N'Zogbia in the closing stages meant a reserve team debut for schoolboy Andrew Carroll - who is yet to feature for our U18 side.

With the Academy U18s out in Italy to play in a tournament, we really were down to the bare bones and all five of our subs tonight were schoolboys. 

Biffa 

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