51 mins McClen deflected shot 2-1

Full time: mackems 2 Newcastle 1

A penalty conversion from former Newcastle striker Michael Bridges set the red and whites on their way to victory in Monday evening's Wear-Tyne reserve derby at Durham.

And a second goal from Sean Thornton just before the interval looked to have given the home side an unassailable lead, only for Jamie McClen to give the Magpies some hope shortly after the restart.

However United never really looked like finding an equaliser thereafter and completed their away league programme having only won twice in fourteen attempts away from Tyneside this season.

In front of a crowd of 997 at Durham City's ground, United keeper Tony Caig was soon in action, scampering back across his goal after only three minutes to clear an over- hit backpass from his own defender Liam Atkin.

Up at the other end, the visitors thought they'd taken the lead after 6 minutes, when mackem defender Danny Collins put Martin Brittain's right wing cross through his own goal, under pressure from Carl Finnigan.

However, referee Nigel Miller ruled out the goal for pushing by the Newcastle striker.

As has been the case in recent reserve games, Newcastle relied heavily on the wide play of left-sided winger Alan O'Brien and on 16 minutes his dribble took him past three players and into the mackem box.

Not for the first time though, his centre was too strong and bounced away before being cleared.

Ex-Newcastle striker Michael Bridges was then fouled just inside the United penalty area on 32 minutes by Jamie McClen and got up to ram the resultant penalty past Caig.

Bridges was then involved in Sunderland's second goal, albeit indirectly as his late tackle on Kris Gate saw the Newcastle full back limp from the field for treatment.

The Wearsiders took full advantage of their numerical superiority and doubled their lead, crap mackem rapper Sean Thornton bursting into the left side of the box and shooting low and powerfully to beat Caig on his near post.

Some confusion in the 51st minute then led to Newcastle halving the arrears, much to the disgust of the mackem onlookers.

Finnigan and defender Mark Lynch tangled down the United left, with the linesman signalling a shirt tug by the Newcastle man.

However as both players stopped momentarily, referee Miller waved play on and Finnigan was first to react, slipping the ball to McClen, who netted via a deflection amid prolonged protests from home players.

That goal saw United redouble their efforts and four minutes later O'Brien managed to weave his way again into the mackem box, only to blast his shot against 'keeper Ingham's legs.

After that the game gradually died a death and goalmouth action became less and less frequent, sub 'keeper Ben Smith being well protected by his defence - Canadian youth international David Edgar in particular having a decent game against lively opposition.

Like the first team though, our reserve side is in something of a rut at present and watching them is more from a sense of duty than pleasure. 

For some of the players though there's little respite, with an academy game on Tuesday and another reserve fixture on Thursday.  


Biffa