Newcastle reserves ended what has been a mixed league season in which no less than 51 players have appeared with defeat at Blackburn Rovers on Thursday in another training ground fixture.

Having faced four penalties on Monday night in the Senior Cup Final, Magpies 'keeper Jak Alnwick lined up against another spot kick on 11 minutes after a foul by Tamas Kadar. 

However striker Nick Blackman proceeded to wastefully blaze wide for the home side.

Rovers continued to dominate though and went ahead in the 32nd minute through Jamie Maclaren, who ran on to a through ball and converted with a right foot shot from the edge of the area.

And the Newcastle 'keeper was picking the ball out of his net again just two minutes later, when goalscorer Maclaren turned provider.

His cross picked out the unmarked Herold Goulon and the former smoggie reserve got ahead of Conor Newton to convert a close-range header.

Attempting to get back into the game, United's best chance fell to Brad Inman but the Aussie midfielder proved unable to force the ball home when confronted with the Rovers 'keeper.

Into the second half and both Tamas Kadar and Ryan McGorrigan failed to reappear on what were their final appearances for the club, while fellow discards Jeff Henderson, Patrick Nzuzi, Greg McDermott and Dan Taylor played the full 90 minutes before departing from United. Youngster Jamie Smith came off the bench and would subsequently end his association with the club.    

Although United enjoyed a greater share of possession after the restart, they still failed to fashion anything that suggested they'd salvage anything from this contest - which had ended in a 4-4 draw in the final game of last season.

With the game won, the home side introduced a trio of first year Academy players for their reserve league bow, before Blackman then atoned for his earlier miss with a solo run and shot on 75 minutes to make it 3-0.

New boy Daniel Laverty then had the chance to make it four and mark his debut in style, but incredibly contrived to loft the ball over an unguarded United goal from barely four yards.


Biffa

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