Match report- Newcastle Reserves

Article produced for Sunday Sun, Newcastle, March 2007:

Newcastle United Reserves versus Liverpool Reserves

A miserable month continued for Newcastle Reserves as they crashed to their fourth defeat in five matches against a persistent Liverpool side, at Kingston Park.

Three late goals from the visitors gave them the points they deserved. The Magpies looked jaded- passes were not going where intended, tackles were clumsy and no real chances were made.

Liverpool were just as guilty, and the match offered no real entertainment, save for the spectacular 30-yard opener from the Reds’ Jay Spearing in the 73rd minute.

With the away side pushing for a goal, Newcastle were under pressure, and as the ball came to youth team captain Spearing near to the edge of the box, there was only one destination for the swerving bullet that his right foot released.

Newcastle’s heads lowered as soon as Spearing’s picture-perfect effort sailed in, and it was an inevitable result from then on. The striker was involved again six minutes later when he played in Craig Lindfield, who doubled Liverpool’s advantage.

Victory was consolidated with one minute of normal time remaining. Great pace and a neat finish from Ray Putterill completed the delayed scoring rout.

It had took until the second half for any clear-cut chances to emerge. Liverpool mainly dominated the first period, while only creating half chances against a stubborn Newcastle defence. The best opportunity came after 15 minutes from a fumbled Robbie Threlfall cross, but Newcastle ‘keeper Fraser Forster recovered to clear the danger.

After a fractured opening quarter, both teams had resorted to long balls to break down the opposition, with no real effect. The home side’s best chance came from Matthew Pattison, but his shot hit off Andy Carroll and deflected away.

Newcastle regained some control in the match as the break approached, and both teams looked content to while the last few minutes away.

Early on in the second period, Mark Bertram came on to replace Mark Doninger, and straight away began causing problems for Liverpool’s Emiliano Insua down the right flank. On more than one occasion Doninger steamed down the wing, forcing a corner from a dangerous cross and pushing to break the deadlock.

His endeavour was short-lived, however, and as the 60th minute approached, Liverpool began to stamp some authority on the game. Their cosmopolitan defensive pairing of Gabriel Paletta and Ronald Huth started to deal with Newcastle’s attacks, and the Reds’ front two began to look lively.

Paul Huntington and Peter Ramage, who have both had a fair sprinkling of first team experience this season, began to look shaky after their resilient first half, and Liverpool first went close on 66 minutes as a vicious cross was missed by everyone in the box. Threlfall could have finished the loose cross as he charged in, but his shot went wide and another chance went begging.

With only a quarter remaining, Spearing opened the floodgates for Liverpool and condemned Newcastle to a winless March.