12 mins Sean Longstaff was dispossessed in a central position outside his own box by Ed Francis, who moved it quickly on to nearby Greg Olley nearby. The former Newcastle reserve took a touch with his right foot and steered the ball forward with his left for Marcus Dinanga to fire low through Karl Darlow from eight yards out at the North End of the stadium. 0-1

45 mins A through ball from Regan Booty in his own half dropped between Dan Burn and Remi Savage outside the area, falling nicely for Stephen Wearne. The ball seemed to get trapped between his feet as Karl Darlow came off his line, but the home midfielder shrugged off the goalkeper's challenge and coolly picked his spot from just inside the area despite the presence of Burn on the line.   0-2

Half time: Gateshead 2 Newcastle 0

50 mins Under slight pressure from Matt Targett, recently-arrived substitute Kenton Richardson under hit his attempted pass back to Louis Storey. That was intercepted by Allan Saint-Maximin who immediately slipped a pass from the left hand edge of the box to the arriving Elliot Anderson.

His initial shooting attempt was thwarted as Booty dived in, but the Newcastle man retained the ball and finished well from seven yards at the second attempt past Archie Mair. 1-2

59 mins Francis saw his attempted pass cut out by Targett, who fed the advancing Anderson on the right hand side of the Gateshead area. He played a simple ball infield to the unattended Allan Saint-Maximin the Frenchman smashed the ball low into the net from six yards out. 2-2

Green Jay way

81 mins Lewis Miley cut out a pass intended for Wearne and exchanged passes with Burn down United's left flank and midway into the opposition half. The 17 year-old then drifted infield before playing a sublime pass into the box, where 19 year-old Jay Turner-Cooke had stolen in.

He expertly dispatched a glancing first-time effort off his left foot beyond former Magpie Rob Elliot from around 10 yards out.  3-2

Full time: Gateshead 2 Newcastle 3

Mike Williamson:

"I think it lived up to the spectacle we were hoping for on and off the field - there was even a bit of thunder and lightning to add into the mix.

"You can see what we are trying to do, what we are trying to achieve and how we are trying to play and to go toe-to-toe with a club like Newcastle was fantastic. The boys deserve a lot of credit because they showed a lot of courage.

"At half-time, we had a conversation about standards and I asked the lads if being two goals up was enough or can we keep pushing and driving. Fatigue played a part, the changes disrupted it, but overall it was a fantastic game and we got a lot from it and showed some fantastic spells of play.

"We want to give the best impression we can and we were very fortunate to have such a big club come over and create such a spectacle and create revenue, which is huge for us as a club. 

"We wanted to test them as much as we could on the field and I think we have been able to do that with a very strong performance that showed what we are about and what we want.”

 

Newcastle began their pre-season programme on Saturday afternoon with a short hop over the River Tyne to face their National League neighbours, coming from two goals down to run out 3-2 winners.  

Heavy rainfall threatened to put a dampener on the game - especially for those in the uncovered stands - but it was completed despite pre-match and half-time downpours that left parts of the pitch saturated by the final whistle.

The first public meeting between the sides since 2015 almost got off to an explosive start, with Matt Ritchie dragging an effort just wide within 20 seconds.

Other early chances for the green-clad Magpies fell to Ritchie again, Sean Longstaff and Jamal Lewis, but it was the hosts who went ahead on 12 minutes when striker Marcus Dinanga fired home.

An unfamiliar line-up with Kieran Trippier in midfield, Lewis out on the left wing and Remi Savage partnering Dan Burn in central defence came close to levelling through Longstaff again and Allan Saint-Maximin.

However Mike Williamson's side went in two goals ahead after midfielder Stephen Wearne leaving Darlow stranded before coolly picking his spot despite the presence of Burn on the line.  

Although a large number of players warmed up during the interval deluge, United restarted with nine of the original line-up in place; Karius replacing Darlow and Alex Murphy coming on for Savage.

The visitors soon reduced the arrears through Elliot Anderson on 50 minutes and the score was tied just before the hour as Anderson returned the favour and teed up Saint-Maximin. Anderson then saw another effort glance off the upright as the visitors looked to complete the comeback.

The home side brought on SJP old boy Tom Allan and recent signing Aidan Rutledge - the latter giving a hint of the striking appetite that brought him over 60 goals for Northern League Birtley Town last season by working a shooting chance that Karius was equal to. 

Newcastle made a host of changes and two of those created an 81st minute winner; 17 year-old Lewis Miley's fine ball expertly finished by 19 year-old Jay Turner-Cooke.

The younger of the two Miley brothers ended the game on the field with elder brother Jamie - who took the captain's armband relinquished by the departing Dan Burn and passed it on to Lewis. 

There was also a first senior sighting for 18 year-old forward Ben Parkinson, who recently signed his first professional contract after a successful introduction to the U21s earlier in 2023.

Parkinson & Co. may well be back on this pitch next Saturday, when Newcastle's U21 side occupy the home dressing room before playing a friendly against Carlisle United's first team.

And looking further ahead, rumours persist that the Magpies may use the International Stadium to host some U18 and/or U21 matches during the coming season - which would bring in further much-needed revenue for their Tyneside neighbours. As yet though, that's unconfirmed.

Biffa