I'll post a report when I've eaten ne fish'n'chips. We didn't lose. In fact we didn't draw. We didn't let any goals. We didn't score 10 but we scored more than 8. Guess who scored - get it right and Rik & Clarky will buy you a beer.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Answers

If you can't wait, see NUFC.COM

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

My little mate Jamie Coppinger knows where the goal is :-)

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

And Domi knackered again. argh!

Perhaps Bobby should start the reserves on Sunday? They can show the first team how to win. ;-)

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

A near capacity crowd turned up to see the Resorves take on Blyth Spartans at Croft Park tonight. Near the capacity of a busy dance floor that is - there was plenty of standing room for the die-hards and I'd guess about 1000-1500 turned up, creating a nice little earner for the Spartans. The profit line was swelled by an early kickoff and an prompt finish, meaning that the flood lights didn't need to be switched on.

The Resorves lined up with Jon Karelse, Ryan McGuffie, Stephen Caldwell, Gary Caldwell, Didier Domi, Diego Gavilan, Brian Kerr, Jamie McClen, Stephen Glass, Jamie Coppinger and David McMahon - most of whom could have been plucked from the crowd for all the recognition they got. Come to think of it, Jamie McClen probably was, being a local lad from Cramlington and a sometimes drinker in Durty Nellies down by the Quayside (that's the one just roond the corner from Blyth Polliss).

The match started with Spartans looking the livelier of the two sides. This lasted for about 10 minutes when Newcastle stepped up a gear and Jamie Coppinger banged in the first of many. From this moment on, the home side hardly figured and the B&Ws had scored 3 more (or was it 4?) after 25 minutes. The first half ended with a 0-6 scoreline, Coppinger having scored his hat-trick with a nice eft foot chip from McMahon, a delightful header from Diego and another goal from Kerr. Domi made his first appearance since injury and looked comfortable tho' not stretched. He put in a lovely cross for Gavilan's goal. Spartan's goalie made a few good saves, but in all honesty was left very exposed (so it's good job he wasn't facing a gale force wind at Kingston Park).

Just before halftime, Domi made a brilliant challenge to rob the Spartan's right winger, but this was his last major contribution, being taken out at the end of the half and he didn't make an appearance in the second half. Glass had been pretty poor and he was moved back to FB as Newcastle only had a couple of subs on the bench - Des Hamilton coming on for McClen and Stuart Green coming on for Domi - or was it the other way round? Gavilan had a good first half but he faded after half time, along with most of the rest of the team, and the match looked like petering out to a 7-0 win until a couple of late goals made it 9. Coppinger added his 4th, McMahon his second, and Hamilton scored a craker (his 2nd in a B&W shirt??) from the edge of the area. That must have increased the asking price by #25K.

New boy McGuffie had a comfortable game, but to be honest, he wasn't stretched. Domi and Gavilan showed their class and it was clear to see why Softie raves so much about Jamie Coppinger. He's surely Toon's answer to Gary Linneker, tho what he's like with a bag of crisps is yet to be made public.

Clarky surprised all (well Rik and me) by his total appreciation of a good pass, tho what he saw to appreciate was beyond us. Rik embarrassed us by almost bumping into YBR, and they both thought Mick Wadsworth was Douglas Hall.

So, a decent performance, but only against a side which lacked ideas. Somehow, I think it may be a bit different when they take on an EPL Resorve side and few of tonight's side are ready yet to make the step into the first team. Oh - I almost forgot those silky skills. Des Hamilton - not.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Nice one Screach - are you up for City Res on 29th ? I'm travelling back from Margate (don't ask) that day but am aiming to make it.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Dunno Josh. I might be at Heefrow for the week :-(

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

This was my one and only view of Newcastle United in pre season, and I was well impressed. OK so it was just the a non leaugue team, against a mainly young reseve team, but to win any game 9 - 0 is some feat. Star of the show was Jamie Coppinger, another Peter Beardsley if I ever saw one. Also impressive was Diego Gavilan and the returning Didier Domi, both looked like they were in a different class to the rest on the field. Domi only played for the first half, to be replaced by Des Hamilton, who also managed to find the back of the net from a cross by new ex Anan athletic's right back Ryan McGuffie. He looked very comfortable and went forward more often than not. he's a big strong looking lad and with some improvement on his positional play could end up as warren Barton long term replacement. The centre back pairing of the Caldwell brothers were never really stretched, but on the few occasions that Blyth broke through the Newcastle defence Jon Karelse was at hand with a professional performance between the sticks. I presume that his Turkish deal has broken down which can only be good news for newcastle united.

Newcastle played a 4 man midfield, with Glass and Gavilan playing wide , McClen (replaced by Green) alongside Kerr in the centre. I must say I wasn't too impressed with Stephen Glass on the left, Gavilan was much better on the right than Glass was. Upfront though it was the little and large show of McMahon and Coppinger that stole the show. Coppy getting a hat trick in the first half followed by a 4th in the second half and young Mcmahon, built like an old fashioned centre forward getting a brace either side of half time. Both faded somewhat in the second half, but with that kind of finishing power, coupled with the guile of the likes of Gavilan and Kerr in midfield, and the stability of the 3 Scottish lads in defence, Newcastle could save themselves a fortune by bringing these lads through to the first team in years to come. he only downside of tonights game was the withdraw of Domi at half time, He had taken a knock in the first half so hopefully it's just precautionary. newcastle also had an injury to second half replacement Stuart Green, They finished with 10 men as they had only brought 2 subs with them to croft park, which incidentally serves one of the nicest pints of Scotch ale that I've sampled for a good few years..

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Hey Rik. You only liked the beer 'cos a round cost less than the entrance fee! I agree tho - I could make another appearance at the Croft Park social club next Tuesday when they play the Bishop's for real. Can you get a pass out? You could probably do well selling Pokemon cards, judging by the numbe of bairns there tonight. No like you to miss a business opportunity.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000