Lee Clark's side ended their home campaign in style against the league leaders on Wednesday night, with a first Kingston Park success in six attempts.

First half goals from David Edgar and Andy Carroll rocked the Red Devils and although they came back after the break, they found the Magpies in no mood to surrender.

After a quiet opening in which the visitors came closest through a Dong lob that Fraser Forster claimed, Newcastle's Jonny Godsmark forced a good save from 'keeper Tom Heaton on 21 minutes.

Within two minutes we were ahead, as captain Kris Gate's long throw was nodded on in the box by Andy Carroll.

Mark Doninger failed to connect with an attempted header in front of goal, but the ball fell perfectly for David Edgar to side-foot home at the far post.

That lead was then doubled on 26 minutes, as Carroll grabbed his fourth goal in three reserve games, weaving into the box and evading two defenders before ramming the ball home.

The in-form striker burst through again in similar fashion 10 minutes later, but lost out to Heaton amid vague penalty shouts - Godsmark also having had a shot blocked in the interim.

Into the second half and Manchester United enjoyed a greater share of the play, Forster helpless as Dong shot against the upright on 62 minutes, but brilliantly blocking Phil Marsh's follow up shot.

From the resultant corner Kris Gate was on hand to head Floribert Ngalula's goalbound effort clear -at which point Brian McClair's team probably realised it wasn't their night.

After Dong went into the book for a poor tackle, Newcastle came close to extending their lead as Doninger's free kick was palmed away by Heaton.

Referee Pawson blotted his copybook seven minutes from time though, as he ignored a blatant tug on Godsmark in the penalty area after Newcastle had counter-attacked at speed through Carroll and new boy Wrightson.  
 
Whether it's to be farewell Kingston Park remains to be seen, but tonight was payback for those fans who have endured a difficult season - tonight's crowd was a season's best of 749 but far reduced from the 3,000+ who saw this fixture just three seasons ago.  

Academy midfielder James Marwood made his first league start at this level, while schoolboys Stuart Bath and Kieran Wrightson appeared as substitutes for their reserve debuts. 

United's second string end their season with away games against the Smoggies at the Riverside on Tuesday 17th April and Bolton at Leyland one week later - two sides who both have a chance of taking the league title.

Biffa

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