Goals from 18 year-old strike duo Phil Airey and Sam Ameobi helped United reserves to a point in their first home game of the season, at Whitley Park on Tuesday. However, Peter Beardsley's side were grateful to 'keeper Ole Soderberg, who made a handful of decent stops to deny the visitors.

United went ahead on nine minutes when Phil Airey was fouled in the box by French youngster Chrys Mavinga and got up to score from the spot.

Playing a second reserve game as he looked to build up his match fitness, Sol Campbell was again paired in central defence with Matthew Grieve. However, they could do nothing to prevent a stunning equaliser from Reds debutant Jesus "Suso" Fernandez after 27 minutes.

The highly-rated Spanish youngster blasted a long range effort that flew past Soderberg, giving the young Swede no chance. And the visitors could have gone in ahead when Campell's slack backpass gave Michael Ngoo a site of goal, only for Soderberg to block and save his blushes.

United made their first change at half time with Sam Ameobi coming in place of Patrick Nzuzi, who had been drafted in at short notice (see below) and occupied the right midfield role. The early exchanges were fairly equal, with Airey sending one effort into the side netting from a narrow angle and Soderberg saving a goalbound Thomas Ince effort.

Newcastle then regained the lead just before the hour mark after their best move of the game, Ryan Donaldson pushing forward through central midfield and picking out the advancing Phil Airey with a fine pass.

Airey duly delivered his cross from the left flank towards the back post, where Donaldson had made ground and was able to head the ball down for Sammy Ameobi, who was on hand to net from close range, after a slightly fortunate deflection off a defender.

Before the restart Sol Campbell was replaced by Jeff Henderson, but the dominance that the visitors had begun to show before going behind continued - Paul Dummett at left back in particular having his hands full trying to contain Liverpool's lively forwards. 

After Soderberg had made a further acrobatic block, the second equaliser arrived on 75 minutes. Stephen Irwin's pass into the United area found midfielder David Amoo, whose shot found the net via a deflection off Dummett.

The Magpies made their third and final substitution with five minutes of the match remaining as Folan replaced Donaldson, the Republic of Ireland youth international defender returning after an injury absence. 

Two late chances saw Liverpool threaten to take all three points, but Soderberg denied Jack Robinson and then saw Ince fail to make contact with a cross that was slung across United's six yard box. 

PS: Forgotten man Fabio Zamblera was named on the Newcastle team sheet but failed to make it on to the pitch. Patrick Nzuzi took his place in the starting line-up. Meanwhile, there was a first call-up at this level for midfielder Michael Richardson, who joined United's academy from Walker Central in pre-season.

International commitments ruled out Shane Ferguson, Patrick McLaughlin, Jóan Edmundsson, Tamas Kadar and Haris Vučkić.


Liverpool (h) - Premier Reserve League record:
(all games at Kingston Park unless stated)

2009/10 drew 2-2 Airey, Ameobi (Whitley Park)
2008/09 drew 1-1 Carroll (Whitley Park) 
2007/08 drew 0-0 (SJP)
2006/07 lost 0-3
2005/06 won 2-1 Finnigan, Farman
2004/05 drew 0-0
2003/04 won 1-0 Chopra
2002/03 drew 1-1 Ferrell
2001/02 won 4-2 McClen, Chopra, Bernard, Offiong (SJP)
2000/01 won 2-0 Bonvin, Gavilan
1999/00 lost 0-2


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