Lethal Liam Wins It For Reserves

[Scottish Mag 3]

NEWCASTLE'S Reserves started their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win over Northern League outfit Consett at Belle Vue on Monday evening.

 

A crowd of just under 1,000 saw coach Tommy Craig send out a youthful side, with Alan O'Brien the only player in the team to have any senior experience.

 

Former Newcastle junior Adam Bartlett was in goal for the hosts, and he was forced to make the first save of any note with 23 minutes on the clock when he dived at the feet of Andy Carroll who had found himself clean through.

 

On 28 minutes later left back Phil Cave was well positioned on the line to deny Consett's Michael Mackay, and a minute later play switched to the other end and the young Magpies took the lead.

 

O'Brien did well on the left to whip in a cross, and when Carroll did well against two defenders to poke the ball into th path of Liam Atkin, the versatile youngster took a touch before firing low into the bottom corner.

 

Four minutes before the interval Consett almost got themselves back on level terms when Andy Bulford got on the end of Gary Ormston's centre, but Tim Krul did well to stretch and tip the ball onto the post.

 

Coach Craig made a double switch at the break, with Andy Carroll and Callum Little making way for James Troisi and Rob Cavener, while the home side replaced Bartlett with James Platten.

 

And Platten was forced into action seven minutes into the second period when skipper Kris Gate burst through, diving at the feet of the midfielder to deny him.

 

Just before the hour mark Bulford scraped the top of the crossbar, while O'Brien wasted a glorious opportunity to wrap the game up four minutes from the end when he found himself one-on-one with Platten bust lofted the ball over the diving goalkeeper and wide of the target.

 

Newcastle United Reserves: Tim Krul, Chris Shanks, Phil Cave, David Edgar, Paul Huntington, Kris Gate, Liam Atkin, Callum Little (Rob Cavener 46), Andy Carroll (James Troisi 46), Carl Finnigan, Alan O'Brien

Sub (not used): Fraser Forster (gk)

[Matt 0]

Bartlett is a quality keeper- assume he's back from the US where he's been playing on-off for a few months.

 

Still, you'd expect a couple more goals fromthe side that was put out there.

[Kid Dynamite 7470]

I was there. it was crap.

[Guest Fog on the Tyne]

I was there. it was crap.

160885[/snapback]

 

I heard a draw should have been a fair result.

[Kid Dynamite 7470]

It was just dull stuff. Consett ran their arses off closing everything down and concentrating on neat, short passes cos they were playing a 'proper' team. Newcastle just played 1 and 2 touch football, obviously shit scared that any dribbling would be conceived as showboating and tommy craig would give them the hairdryer treatment.

 

So it ended up with pinball football in the middle 3rd with very little goalmouth action. Consetts right back and our centre half were the pick of the bunch IMO. Krul dropped a couple of clangers and has a long way to go to become the player hes cracked up to be.

[Kid Dynamite 7470]

Bartlett is a quality keeper- assume he's back from the US where he's been playing on-off for a few months.

 

Still, you'd expect a couple more goals fromthe side that was put out there.

160824[/snapback]

 

 

He was at Blyth last season covering for the injured turns. Put in some good performances.

[Matt 0]

Bartlett is a quality keeper- assume he's back from the US where he's been playing on-off for a few months.

 

Still, you'd expect a couple more goals fromthe side that was put out there.

160824[/snapback]

 

 

He was at Blyth last season covering for the injured turns. Put in some good performances.

160895[/snapback]

 

 

I know. I was there.

[Kid Dynamite 7470]

Not as often as me!!!! bastard!