Newcastle Reserves 3 Boro Reserves 0
Newcastle Reserves 3 Middlesbrough Reserves 0
BORO's Reserves suffered their heaviest defeat of the season up on Tyneside tonight, writes GORDON COX from Kingston Park.
It took United just three minutes to take the lead.
Alan O'Brien swung over a right-wing corner, Jason Kennedy sliced towards his own goal, John Johnson cleared but only to Daryl Smylie. His low shot from 22 yards looked to carry no threat, but Brad Jones fumbled and looked suitably embarrassed as the ball squirmed in.
Danny Graham intercepted a back-header from Kris Gate but lobbed wide from just inside the penalty area, while Tom Craddock ought to have done better than to head an Adam Johnson left-wing cross wide of Tony Caig's right-hand post.
United showed how it should be done when scoring again after 14 minutes.
Michael Chopra put in some fine work down the left, lobbing Graeme Owens and beating John Johnson before firing a low shot towards goal from eight yards. Jones could only parry and Matty Pattison drilled home.
Boro stuck to their guns and Craddock linked up well with Graham whose low shot was saved by Caig, but the goalkeeper wasn't needed when Craddock next linked with Adam Johnson who curled well over when cutting from the D on the edge of the box.
Matthew Bates was at full stretch to clear from Chopra as United hit back in an open game, while Andrew Taylor stood firm under pressure as the home side marauded down the right.
Craddock and Graham created plenty of problems for United's back line and there was certainly hope that Boro could find a way back into the game.
Not far from half-time Graham got the better of Chris Farman midway inside the Newcastle half, but a low shot was comfortably gathered by Caig.
The final chance of the first half fell to United as O'Brien swung over a fine cross from the left and Chopra wasn't too far away with a header from seven yards.
It took just 20 seconds for Boro to create a chance in the second half as Adam Johnson set up Craddock just inside the penalty. However instead of shooting, Craddock elected to control, but his touch was poor and the chance was last.
A couple of minutes later Adam Johnson cut in from the left and fired just over when a few yards in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area.
After each side had made a change midway through the second half United almost made it three when Pattison shot for goal from 25 yards. Jones produced a fine save to tip round for a corner.
But Newcastle made it three from the set piece as Michael Terrell shot home from close range. A goal with his first touch and one which will taste all the sweeter as he was on Boro's books as a youngster.
Boro tried to hit back and twice in a minute were denied good claims for a penalty.
Graham advanced into the penalty area and pulled the ball back for Craddock whose shot from eight yards hit Gate on the arm. The ball was scrambled clear for a corner from which Gary Liddle hit the post with a close range header. The ball rebounded back into play and struck another white sleeved arm, but again vehement appeals were waved away.
In the final minute of normal time Craddock brought a near post save from Caig with a low drive, while in the second minute of injury time Caig flung himself full length to his left to deny Graham.
Newcastle United: Caig; Baxter (Marshall 79), Cave, Farman, Edgar, Gate, Smylie, Pattison, Finnigan, Chopra (Terrell 66), O'Brien. Unused subs: Cook, Reay.
Middlesbrough: Jones; J Johnson, Taylor, Liddle, Bates, Burgess (Williams 46), Owens (Fisher 67), Kennedy, Graham, Craddock, A Johnson. Unused subs: Knight (gk); Robson.
Attendance: 460
