2 mins Meulens shot 0-1

7 mins Rosheuval shot 0-2

12 mins Ranger shot 1-2

Half time: Almere 2 United 1

72 mins Meulens penalty 1-3

80 mins Ameobi shot 2-3

Full time: Almere 3 United 2

Newcastle's Dutch tour ended on Tuesday with defeat on a grass training pitch, rather than the plastic surface at Almere's romantically-named Mitsubushi Forklift Stadion.

With striker Phil Airey reverting back to his previous role at right back, Peter Beardsley's side went one down in just the second minute when Meulens netted for the home side. 

Rosheuval then doubled that lead five minutes later before Nile Ranger pulled one back, with stand-in centre half Michael Richardson feeding Yven Moyo out on the left flank.

His low cross from the left was miskicked by Wayne Routledge but the ball fell for Ranger to fire home for his first United goal of this pre-season.

Joey Barton was booked after 50 minutes for a wild lunge and Ole Soderberg pulled off a couple of fine saves before Almere got their third via the penalty spot when Meulens claimed his second of the game after the same player was fouled in the area by Barton.

Sammy Ameobi then reduced the arrears with ten minutes remaining with a tap-in from a Routledge cross and Ranger almost grabbed an equaliser with four minutes to play, only to be denied by the outstretched foot of City 'keeper Erwin Friebel as United striker bore down on goal.

Based in Almere, City are a second tier side who finished bottom of the table last season, but found themselves reprieved from relegation following the demise of fellow strugglers Roosendaal. Their opponents this coming season include Den Bosch and Helmond Sport - sides that United faced on their pre-season first team tour of the Netherlands in 1999.

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