8 mins: Ranger shot 1-0

30 mins: Vučkić shot 2-0

42 mins: Morris header / OG 3-0

Half time: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 3

Full time: Gateshead 0 Newcastle 3

Peter Beardsley told the Chronicle:

"Any win is a good win, but I thought the lads really played some good football in the first half. Obviously Callum Morris will be disappointed he scored an own goal but I thought some of the football was good.

"At 3-0 the second half became a bit bitty because they made changes and we made changes.You can understand in international friendlies how it always makes a difference.

"We got off to a great start and I thought Greg McDermott was outstanding all night. He made the first goal for Nile, Haris scored the second goal and we know that they both have good quality. It’s great for the club to have players like that. The clean sheet is always a bonus and for young Jak, who did so well in the Youth Cup last year, it’s a massive bonus for him.

"There were positives everywhere. It was a good night all round."

Tynesiders boss and former Magpie midfielder Ian Bogie commented:

"We weren’t good enough and the only positives I can take out of the game is that we didn’t play for any points. It’s two weeks before the season starts and we need to bring in possibly three new additions.

"We looked better in the second half but did Newcastle take their foot off the gas? Probably so, but over the 90 minutes I was disappointed. At times they passed us off the park and their three goals were comical to say the least.

"We looked a lot better in the second half and kept the ball better and our possession improved. We had a couple of efforts at goal but overall it was a disappointing night. We had a good look at the trialists and I know what we need now to improve the squad and I will work ever so hard over the next ten days to bring new players in for the start of the season.

"He (Marwood) has been our most consistent performer and he looks as if he will be the player to get people off their seats and we just need a few more like him. However, one or two are looking lacklustre and we won’t wait forever, If some players are not doing the job someone else will. I know what we need in the team for 14 August and we will work hard to get it."

United reserve coaches Peter Beardsley and Steve Stone got off to a winning start in their first game in charge on Friday night, three first half goals accounting for their Tyneside neighbours.

The Magpies opened brightly and Kazenga LuaLua saw his shot blocked within ninety seconds of the first whistle, before Haris Vuckic blazed wide shortly afterwards.

The one way traffic continued and the opening goal duly arrived after eight minutes. Jóan Símun Edmundsson took possession in the Gateshead half and a well-worked move involving Vuckic, Brad Inman and Greg McDermott ended with Nile Ranger shooting home from close range.

His strike partner Haris Vuckic then came to life on the half hour trying his luck from distance and seeing his shot squirm through the legs of James McKeown to double Newcastle' advantage.

McKeown then did well to block another LuaLua shot before two became three on 42 minutes. A defensive mix-up led to Gateshead trialist Callum Morris nodding the ball beyond his stranded 'keeper under pressure from Ranger. The Republic of Ireland U21 central defender was released by The Magpies at the end of last season.

With three half time substitutions for Newcastle in front of the watching Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood, the home side enjoyed their best period of the game in the early stages of the second half, former Magpie James Marwood testing Jak Alnwick in the Magpies goal.

However a central defensive combination of Jeff Henderson and Paul Dummett (who had played the first half in his more usual left back role) remained firm.

Operating on the counter and with Sammy Ameobi looking to press forward down the right flank, United had the ball in the net on 69 minutes when Greg McDermott hooked home. However the referee blew for an apparent offside.

Ryan Donaldson found some space in central midfield and the recently-returned England U19 international tested McKeown with a fierce effort from outside the box on 73 minutes, before shooting wide after racing in on goal.

At the other end, former United reserve Andy Ferrell was left beating the ground in frustration after just failing to make contact with a right wing cross in front of the Newcastle goal.

There were reserve debuts for Welsh youth international defender Alex Nicholson and locally-born strike duo Dennis Knight and Dan Taylor. Unused goalkeeping substitute Ben Robinson completed a quartet of Academy youngsters gaining experience at this level.

Nile Ranger's appearance in a number 19 shirt for the second half (having worn 9 in the first) caused some confusion amongst punters in the stand.

Absentees from the squad included Patrick McLaughlin and Shane Ferguson (on international duty with Northern Ireland) and Swedish duo Ole Soderberg and Samuel Adjei, who are both sidelined through injury.

As well as the aforementioned Morris and Ferrell, the home side also included ex-Magpie reserves Craig Baxter, Kris Gate and James Marwood. Martin Brittain and Mark Cook were unused subs, while Paul Farman was out with a knee injury.

Biffa

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