Having netted twice in our last home reserve league game back in November, striker Phil Airey repeated the feat as the second string returned to winning ways on Monday. The in-form youngster had scored four times so far in 2010 in FA Youth Cup and Academy League outings and kept up his prolific run in front of goal at a damp Whitley Park.  

Airey's first came via a shot from just inside the area on ten minutes, just 30 seconds after he had struck the Leeds upright from similar distance. His second arrived on 34 minutes when strike partner Frank Danquah threaded the ball across the box from the left for Airey to get ahead of a defender and net from close range.

Between those two strikes, Ryan Donaldson had missed a great chance to get in on the goalscoring act, wastefully skying his volley from a Jonny Godsmark centre. Airey then embarked on a solo run in the final minute of the first half that saw his deflected effort pass narrowly wide of the post, before Donaldson again came close.

The second half saw a slight improvement from the visitors, with Tim Krul doing well to block an effort from substitute Sam Jones on 67 minutes.

With Brad Inman replacing Patrick McLaughlin in central midfield, Newcastle went in search of further goals but visiting goalkeeper Ryan Jones wasn't tested until he dashed off his line in added time to deny Airey his treble.

Among those watching were first teamers Steve Harper, Alan Smith and Patrick Van Aanholt, along with Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood.

PS: The Magpies side included Jonny Godsmark, Darren Lough and Frank Danquah - all of whom will be out of contract this coming summer. Godsmark is already expected to be leaving United, while we understand that both Lough and Danquah are also now to be released.

News is awaited on the fate of Wesley Ngo Baheng and Callum Morris, both of whom are also believed to be in the final months of their present deals. 

Biffa

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