20mins Fenelon shot 0-1

41mins Ryan Taylor penalty 1-1

Half time: Newcastle 1 Brighton 1

56mins Vuckic header 2-1

62mins Barlaser shot 3-1

Full time: Newcastle 3 Brighton 1

Peter Beardsley's side extended their unbeaten run this season to five games on Monday, as they regained first place in the table by beating the bottom-placed Seagulls. 

However, the final score doesn't tell the full story of an eventful 90 minutes that were played behind closed doors at Darsley Park, after a late switch from Whitley Park.

After a month without a competitive game, United started with a quartet of players boasting senior team experience in the shape of Rob Elliot, Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic and Ryan Taylor - the latter continuing his comeback after two recent reserve team friendly outings and playing right midfield.

Albion included on-trial Chike Kandi in their starting lineup and the former Chelsea striker's physical presence proved to be a handful for the home defence early on, abetting by fellow trialist Kieran Sadlier from West Ham.

Restricting United to shots from distance by Alex Gilliead and Dan Barlaser, Shamir Fenelon forced a block from Elliot after 14 minutes. The striker did rather better six minutes later though, when Kandi forced his way in from the left before pulling the ball back for Fenelon to net.

United struggled for a response and barely had the ball in the Brighton box until a neat passing move ended when Vuckic was illegally denied by Glen Rea, who clearly blocked a goalbound shot from close range on the line. Visiting captain Rea was shown a straight red before Taylor beat Christian Walton with the resultant penalty, sending the teams in level at the interval.

Elliot was again tested just seconds after the restart, making a flying leap to tip away George Cole's shot. From that point on though, Newcastle began to make their numerical advantage count and after Barlaser shot narrowly wide, Callum Roberts centred for Bigirimana to be beaten to the ball by a defender in the six yard box. 

From the resultant corner though, Roberts dropped the ball at the near post for Lubo Satka to help it on and Vuckic climb and head in at the far post for 2-1. Roberts was again to the fore as United made it 3-1 just six minutes later, taking Facundo Ferreyra's through ball and powering down the United right before snaking into the area and teeing up Dan Barlaser to shoot home.

The Seagulls were reduced to nine men on 74 minutes, after an off the ball incident involving Ferreyra and Danny Pappoe saw the visiting defender shown a straight red card, apparently for violent conduct.

After some confusion, play restarted with a direct free kick deep in the Albion area and all nine of their players on the goal line - Ryan Taylor trying his luck but seeing a rising shot charged down.

Despite the extra two men though, Newcastle didn't seriously test Walton again, the final whistle sounding to confirm a full 90 minute workout for Ryan Taylor for the first time since August 2012.
The long-term absentee is still understandably ring-rusty and had an easier time of things in the second half today when Albion started losing players. 

Taylor however is already well ahead of Ferreyra in the reckoning for a first team place and while squad rotation may come into effect for next week's Capital One Cup tie at Manchester City, even a runout in the Northumberland Senior Cup would seem beyond "Chucky" on this evidence. 

Biffa