A 93rd minute goal from Haris Vuckic secured victory for Newcastle Reserves in their Premier League 2 fixture at the Aggborough home of non-league Kidderminster Harriers on Monday evening.

There was a debut for new arrival Victor Fernandez - a teenage striker from Spain - while Vuckic returned to the side after returning from loan at Bradford City.

Fernandez began in a wide left role and won a ninth minute corner that was swung over for an unmarked Vuckic to head wide of the target. 

Victor began the game in a short-sleeved shirt, but on a cold and wet evening was soon layering up - adding a long-sleeved version on top of the original! 

Featuring for the Baggies was Welsh international forward Hal Robson-Kanu and he twice cut in from the right before shooting, testing United 'keeper Nathan Harker once and curling the other well wide.

Yasin El-Mhanni's cross in the 20th minute gave Dan Ward sight of goal meanwhile, but the Newcastle midfielder's effort easily cleared the crossbar.

Vuckic came closer eight minutes before the interval, taking down a corner and making space to get a fierce shot on target. Boaz Myhill was equal to that however, palming it high into the air coming down onto the bar for a defender to nod the rebound back to the goalkeeper.

Into the second period and Fernandez put a 20 yarder narrowly wide before making way for Jamie Holmes - who almost made an immediate impact. A neat 1-2 with Vuckic gave the substitute sight of goal but Myhill blocked the snapshot at his near post.  

Defender Stuart Findlay then volleyed over from another Magpies corner on 63 minutes as both sides did their best to cope with the unfavourable conditions, the pitch cutting up badly.

Vuckic and El-Mhanni then combined down the United left with seven minutes to play, only for Ward to get the ball stuck under his feet before shooting wide. 

The Magpies continued to press and a Holmes cross in the closing seconds of normal time caused confusion before a last-ditch clearance from a home player for another corner.

Albion's Sam Field threw himself in front of a shot from substitute Owen Bailey as three minutes of added time ticked away. However, Albion could do nothing to prevent Vuckic converting at the far post after a corner was flicked on to him and he had time to control and pick his spot, chipping in from close range.

There was barely time to kick off again as referee Sam Allison blew the final whistle, ending a positive night for Peter Beardsley's side.

Fernandez showed some excellent touches, good pace and cut inside and out with purpose. Dan Barlaser had a fine night directing from the middle and there were notable performances all over the pitch from the visitors in difficult conditions.

Niall MacKenzie