Boro Res 0 Newcastle Utd Res 5
MIDO played 45 minutes as Boro's Reserves were soundly beaten and had a man sent-off tonight, writes GORDON COX from Billingham.
The plan was always to ease Mido, who hasn't played since October, back into action to test a problem with a pubic bone.
It was a gentle introduction for the Egyptian, who will now be assessed with regards to possible participation in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Mansfield.
After a steady start to the game Boro created the first chance, Tom Craddock bringing a save from Fraser Forster with a drive from six yards.
It was Craddock again who provided the next threat, this time from the edge of the box, Forster again coming to the rescue.
Newcastle settled and took the game to Boro, Kazenga LuaLua laying a neat ball into the path of Jonathan Godsmark and he in turn set up Andy Carroll, who ought to have scored but miss-kicked eight yards out.
He atoned for the error just a minute later with 22 minutes played when Mark Doninger swung over a good corner and Andy Carroll powered a header past Ross Turnbull.
Boro almost hit back immediately as Joe Bennett crossed for Mido, who got plenty power behind a drive but it was at a comfortable height for Forster. His save only rebounded to Bennett, who shot for goal only to find Forster in irrepressible form.
A weak header from Mido was never going to trouble the scorers but United almost did with 36 minutes played as Carroll directed a Doninger corner goalbound, only to see Boro skipper Jonathan Grounds clear off the line.
But three minutes from the break the visitors grabbed a second when Melbourne-born James Troisi superbly picked out Jonathan Godsmark, who gave Turnbull no chance with a finish from 15 yards.
Half-time: Boro 0 Newcastle United 2
Boro started brightly after the break with Owens hitting the bar direct from a corner and Stephen Thompson, a half-time replacement for Mido, going close with a header from eight yards.
Josh Walker and Thompson then combined to set up a half chance, but United regrouped to clear.
Boro shot themselves in the foot just past the hour mark when a miss-timed tackle from Rhys Williams on LuaLua brought a penalty and sadly a trip off the field on a stretcher for the United youngster. Carroll stepped up and got some real power behind his shot, but Turnbull finger-tipped it onto the bar.
It didn't take long for goal number three to arrive.
With 69 minutes played Troisi played an immaculate ball to Andy Carroll, who lashed past Turnbull from 14 yards.
Worse was to follow for Boro as they had Owens sent-off for a tackle on Doninger and United grabbed a fourth with 77 minutes played, Andy Carroll completing his hat-trick as he comfortably beat Turnbull after being beautifully set up by Godsmark.
The rout was completed in the 90th minute when substitute Dan Neary stroked home from 12 yards.
Teams: Boro: Turnbull; J Johnson (Smallwood 77), Grounds (Capt), Walker, Bates, Williams, Owens, Kennedy, Mido (Thompson 46), Craddock, Bennett (Porritt 65). Unused subs: Steele (gk); Robinson.
Newcastle United: Forster; Morris, Patterson, Doninger, Edgar, Kadar (Grieve 69), Godsmark, Troisi, Carroll, Ngo Baheng (Neary 84), LuaLua (Danquah 65). Unused subs: Cook (gk); McLaughlin.
Referee: Mo Matadar.
Sent-off: Graeme Owens, 71, straight red for foul on Doninger.
Bookings
Boro: Grounds, 43, foul; Williams, 64, foul. Smallwood, 89, foul.
Newcastle: None
Conditions: Cool and blustery.
