11mins Gutierrez shot 1-0

Half time: Newcastle 1 Trotters 0

48mins Odelusi shot 1-1

Full time: Newcastle 1 Trotters 1

For the second time this season, United's table-topping reserves found their Bolton counterparts too tough a nut to crack as both sides cancelled each other out.

At a chilly Whitley Park, Jonas Gutierrez marked the second competitive appearance of his comeback by dispatching a shot from outside the box into the top corner of the net to give his side an 11th minute lead.

With Davide Santon, Sammy Ameobi and Adam Armstrong all starting, the Magpies went in search of more goals and Bolton 'keeper Ross Fitzsimmons was called into action to thwart Callum Roberts, Jonas and Armstrong as United dominated proceedings.

However the visitors also had some dangerous moments of their own, Georgi Iliev surging forward on 16 minutes and rounding goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, only to flick his effort off the goal frame as the angle narrowed.

Bolton then had the ball - and Woodman -in the net on the half hour - but a blatant shove from Sanmi Odelusi reminiscent of Wanderers old boy Nat Lofthouse meant was rightly chalked off.

However there was nothing wrong with Odelusi's leveller just three minutes after the restart, when United lost possession in the box and the London-born forward converted Conor Wilkinson's short pass.

That goal came as the Magpies were re-organising their defence after a half time change that saw Santon move from left back to central defence as Macaulay Gillesphey was replaced, with Gutierrez taking the full back role.

With midfielder Olivier Kemen appearing in an unfamiliar right back position, United began to lose the initiative and Bolton pushed forward down the flanks, creating the better chances as the temperature dropped.

Quade Taylor couldn't keep his volley down when a free kick dropped to him in acres of space at the back post, while Wilkinson also shot high over the bar after Gael Bigirimana lost the ball deep in the United area.

The best chance of a winner fell to substitute Kaiyne Woolery after the home defence went walkabout, but Woodman was sharply off his line and blocked the shot.

A late flurry from United saw Armstrong stab a first-time effort past the post before Roberts tamely directed his free kick at Fitzsimmons, but the points were rightly shared - as they were at Leyland in August. 

The draw means our lead at the top of Division Two is now on goal difference only, Middlesbrough beating Derby County on Monday to jump above West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal and go level on points with Newcastle.

The smoggies are only team to have beaten us in 10 games this season but have now played one game more than Peter Beardsley's side. The eventual first and second-placed finishers win promotion to Division One. 

PS: Bolton's kit for this game included a khaki coloured shirt, worn in partnership with Blesma - the limbless military veterans association. £10 from the sale of each replica shirt has been donated to the charity.

* Substitute goalkeeper Nathan Harker was named on the bench for the first time at reserve team level.

Biffa