15 mins: Airey shot 1-0

17 mins: Sears shot 1-1

Half time: United 1 United 1

47 mins: Keane shot 1-2

69 mins: McDermott shot 2-2

73 mins: Hines header 2-3

92 mins: Montano shot 2-4

Full time: United 4 United 2

Peter Beardsley's second string succumbed to their fifth  successive away defeat on Tuesday afternoon, during which they have conceded no less than twenty goals.

However a 2-4 reverse at Upton Park didn't tell the story of a game in which the Magpies youngsters matched their vastly more experienced counterparts for long periods and weren't flattered by a 1-1 scoreline at half time.  

The Hammers XI included Robbie Keane, Luis Boa Morte, Freddie Sears, Zavon Hines, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga and Radoslav Kovac. By contrast, the sum total of our first team experience was Phil Airey's 12 minute run out in our FA Cup reverse at Stevenage in January. 

It was first blow to the visitors on 15 minutes when striker Phil Airey latched on to a Conor Newton pass that left the Hammers defence flat-footed, before evading 'keeper Ruud Boffin and shooting home. That was Airey's seventh goal in nine reserve league starts this season and a second in a week, following his late winner against Arsenal. Phil also netted at the Boleyn Ground a year ago for United, in the Youth Cup.

However the lead didn't last long, Freddie Sears racing down the middle within two minutes before beating Magpies 'keeper Jak Alnwick, making his first reserve start of the season - the unwell Ole Soderberg didn't travel. And the visitors suffered a further blow eight minutes before the interval. when Conor Newton was unable to continue after taking a blow to the knee. He went off to be replaced by Patrick Nzuzi. 

The more experienced home side went ahead for the first time in the match just two minutes after the restart, when Robbie Keane fired home from close range. Back came Newcastle though and after good work down the left flank from Michael Richardson, Greg McDermott notched his second reserve goal in as many games with a precise low strike on 69 minutes.

With 17 minutes remaining though it was advantage West Ham once again, Zavon Hines getting on the end of a Faubert free kick to head past Alnwick, Michael Riley penalised for the earlier foul. And 2-3 became 2-4 in added time, when substitute Cristian Montano finished at the second attempt.

Biffa

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