Andy is the 'Head boy

Newcastle's reserve side returned to their former home of the International Stadium for one night only to register victory against their Unibond Premier League hosts.

And it was teenage striker Andy Carroll who led the way for United, netting in each half against his hometown club - although only he will know how he failed to leave having bagged a hat trick.

With former Magpies Craig Baxter and Paul Talbot in their starting XI, the home side were first to show when Talbot forced a routine save from Fraser Forster after 8 minutes.

The opening goal then arrived 12 minutes later from our first serious attack, as Kazenga LuaLua found space down the left to send over a low cross for Carroll to swivel and volley home stylishly.

Goalscorer then turned provided just after the half hour, as Carroll found LuaLua, who sent a 20 yard effort fizzing narrowly over the 'Head crossbar.

Carroll's strike partner Carl Finnigan then tried to get in on the act on 38 minutes, latching on to Huntington's long ball and squeezing past a defender, only to shoot against the goalpost from close range.

And it was Finnigan again a minute before the break, striding into the box to loft his shot over the advancing 'keeper, only for it to drop just wide of the goal.

With no changes at the interval the visitors doubled their lead on 55 minutes with a scorching 25 yard effort from midfielder Dean Critchlow.

Before the resumption Gateshead were forced into a change as the injured Jamie Curtis limped off to be replaced by 38 year-old Ian Bogie - former Magpie midfielder and currently assistant to Manager Tony Lee at the International Stadium.

It should have been 3-0 on 71 minutes, but Carroll somehow managed to steer LuaLua's low centre from the left wide from inside the six yard box.

Finnigan also failed to direct his shot wide of the target with quarter of an hour remaining, before making way for in-form Academy youngster Ryan Donaldson, who had netted three goals in as many starts for our U18s. 

He almost connected with a loose ball in the box on 83 minutes, but within seconds Carroll had bagged his second and our third as he turned to shoot home via a post.

PS - from this once being a venue that was despised for reserve fixtures, the improved (though still bobbly) playing surface and covered seating for supporters now represents an improvement on current conditions at Stalag Kingston Park. Time for another rethink?  

Biffa

Reserves