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Reserves Report: NUFC 3-2 Leeds UnitedNewcastle got their Barclays Premier Reserve League North campaign off to the best possible start by beating Leeds 3-2 on an entertaining evening at Kingston Park, but the match was marred by an injury to Michael Chopra. Lee Clark lined up in black and white stripes for the 1st time since leaving the club for the mackems in 1997. From the 1st team squad, Robbie Elliott, Charles N'Zogbia and Michael Chopra all started, despite the latter pair being involved in the 1st team friendly with Bray Wanderers in Ireland just 24 hours earlier. With the Premiership season opener just 3 days away at Arsenal, and United’s 1st team squad small enough as it is, many of the 516 spectators present were probably wishing they'd been left wrapped up in cotton wool. The game began quietly, until the 11th minute when United’s young keeper Ben Smith had to dive to his right and make a splendid save from a powerful Michael Ricketts header. Yes, that’s the Michael Ricketts who once shone for Bolton and moved to Middlesbrough, now playing for Leeds Reserves. 5 minutes later, and the problem with using 1st team squad players in reserve games was shown. Chopra went into a 50-50 challenge, but came off much worse than Leeds' Simon Walton. He was eventually helped off, and with subsequent confirmation of medial knee ligament damage, the lack of quality 1st team strikers will mean even more sleepless nights for United fans. Within 15 minutes United were the dominant side, forcing 4 corners in quick succession. From the 4th of those, and following various ricochets in the Leeds penalty area, Paul Huntington smashed the ball past ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Bennett to put United in front. However, a minute before the interval, United fell asleep at a Leeds corner, and Einarsson headed past Smith to make it 1-1. 8 minutes into the 2nd period, United skipper Kris Gate also hobbled off, to be replaced by Chris Farman. 5 minutes later, a right-wing cross found Ricketts who scored a magnificent overhead kick to put Leeds infront. The lead lasted only a minute, however, as Alan O'Brien got free down the left, and crossed for Carl Finnigan to bring United back level on the hour. 4 minutes later Leeds thought they were back infront again when Spring deflected Pugh's effort past Smith, but the assistant had his flag up for offside. Ricketts' and Finnigan's last contributions would be their goals, for they were both replaced 20 minutes into the 2nd half. The lively N'Zogbia had an effort saved by Bennett, and then the rain bucketed down. When Brittain delivered a left-wing free kick with 17 minutes to go, Bennett could only parry the ball to Peter Ramage, and the stand-in skipper made it 3-2 to Newcastle. A minute later Alan O'Brien hit the post when one-on-one with Bennett, and with 5 minutes to go Simon Madden's cross came off the Newcastle bar, but there was no final twist to the tale and referee Hewitt blew for full time. NUFC: Smith, Gate (Farman 53), Elliott, Ramage, Huntington, Clark, Brittain, N’Zogbia, Finnigan (Smylie 63), Chopra (M.Walton 18 ), O'Brien. Subs not used: Forster, Cave. Goals: Huntington 35, Finnigan 60, Ramage 73 Leeds: Bennett, Madden, Crainey, Marques, S.Walton (Parker 51), Einarsson, Richardson, Spring, Rothery (Morris 56), Ricketts (Bayly 63), Pugh. Subs not used: Wilberforce, Gray. Goals: Einarsson 44, Ricketts 58. |
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NUFC News Archive (August 11th 2005)
