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Conditions:  Temperature dropping, but a clear night and most importantly, no wind or rain. Considering a rugby match had been played on the pitch barely 24 hours before, the surface was in top-class condition. 

Crowd:  1,096. United were led out by 11 year old mascot Stephen Taylor from Gateshead. 

Referee: E. Ilderton 

Teams: 

NUFC: (normal home kit) Karelse, McGuffie, Ullathorne, Kerr (Boyd 72 mins), G.Caldwell, Green, Gavilan, Bonvin, Ameobi (Coppinger 62 mins), Lua Lua, Dimas

Subs n/u: Brain, McMahon, Brady
Booked: 
 
SWFC: (away kit: white with blue side stripe) Doherty, Byne, Bromby (Quinn 65 mins), Huytton, Young, Higgins, Humphries, Cropper (Wood 67 mins) Jubb, Tevendale (Callery 46 mins), Woods.
Subs n/u: Barrett. Gea named in original team, but not given as a sub when reshuffled lineup announced at kickoff. 
Booked: Alex Higgins 14 minutes, lunge on McGuffie.

7 mins. After a stoppage to allow the visiting keeper to have treatment for an ankle problem, United forced three successive corners but were unable to test the keeper, Ameobi's deflected header being the best attempt.
11 mins In Wednesday's first attack, a speculative centre from the left by Gary Woods was swept past a startled and helpless Karelse by Ullathorne's boot from six yards 0-1
25 mins The first action of note from Lua Lua, as he jinked past two defenders and laid the ball to Green on the left side of the area. His fierce centre whistled across the goal, and was picked up by Gavilan on the opposite flank. He returned it into the box, to where Ameobi controlled and played in Green. This time he elected to shoot and his angled drive was clutched by the 'keeper.
28 mins United's best chance so far came as a result of a free kick in a central position gained by Lua Lua. A backheel reached Dimas, who cracked a first time effort towards goal that took a slight deflection on it's way over the crossbar.
32 mins After a prolonged period of pressure, Bonvin and Ameobi combined to feed the darting Lua Lua. He demonstrated great close control to round the keeper and slip the ball home from close range, despite frantic efforts by a defender to clear off the line. 1-1
36 mins. A three-man move fashioned by Portuguese, Argentinian and Paraguayan boots saw play spread from the left flank across the field. Gavilan eventually crossed for Ameobi to knock the ball down into the path of Kerr, who controlled and volleyed narrowly wide in one movement.
39 mins. Almost a second for the Magpies, as a Green centre from the right was fumbled by the 'keeper and fell nicely for Dimas inside the area. Unfortunately he was unable to keep his shot down and it ballooned over the bar from 12 yards.

Halftime: NUFC 1 SWFC 1

51 mins. Evidence of the suspect visiting keeper was provided by a Kerr shot that was gathered at the second attempt after looking to have squirmed out of the keeper's grasp and be bound for the net.
56 mins. With United dominating totally yet still not in front, Gary Caldwell broke out of defence and found the marauding Lua Lua. His pirouette took him past two defenders and he found Green in space. His low shot was beaten down and gathered by the keeper with Ameobi lurking for any mishap.
57 mins. Speculative shot from Lua Lua, after turning inside a defender. His 30 yard effort was high and wide however.
62 mins.  Lua Lua's next effort was rather better placed, as a fine strike with the outside of his right boot from 18 yards gave us the lead. Gary Caldwell again had initiated the attack with a forward surge, and Lua Lua linked up with him on halfway, before setting off on a run that took out three visiting players and ended with Ameobi seeing his goalbound shot blocked. Happilly Lua Lua was on target to slot home.   2-1
76 mins Recently-introduced sub Mark Boyd tried to get in on the goalscoring act, the goalkeeper smothering his effort following a prolonged exchange of passes between the United attackers.
79 mins Gavilan's turn for an effort, as the home side's previous measured buildup seemed to give way to more of a "shoot on sight" policy.
80 mins. Coppinger was only inches away with a dipping shot from the left edge of the Wednesday box.
84 mins. A defence-splitting ball from Lua Lua that will hopefully be repeated in the Premiership very soon. Unfortunately the onrushing Gavilan was unable to latch on to it.
85 mins. The nearest Lua Lua came to completing his hat trick was another instant shot, this time with his left foot but straight into the body of the grateful 'keeper. 
89 mins. Save of the night - from a spectator behind the goal, who clawed a Dimas shot out of the air, preventing it disappearing over the fance. He accepted the generous applause of the crowd with a neat bow.
92 mins Wrapping things up nicely, Bonvin and Coppinger exchanged passes as they worked their way towards goal, and Green arrived with perfect timing to slot home with a low shot from inside the box. 3-1
 
Final Score: NUFC 3 SWFC 1

Waffle: 

At last a first league win of the season for the second string, at the seventh time of asking. In truth, Wednesday presented absolutely no obstacle to United, and had we not given them a helping hand with their opening goal, Karelse would have had a totally uninvolved evening. As it was, our three-man defence was never tested, and able to roam upfield at will.

The presence of Lua Lua (who completed his first competitive ninety minutes since joining United) seemed to inspire his colleagues into displaying fancy footwork from their own repertoire, and at times our play was rather prosaic instead of being ruthlessly effective. However, the performance of our youngsters was none the less enjoyable for that.

Goals eventually came and once 2-1 ahead, we should have improved our goal difference by rather more than the late strike from Stuart Green, but coach Tommy Craig still looked a relieved man when the final whistle blew, thankful that his boys had opened their account. 

In amongst the crowd were most of the Academy sides, as well as first teamers Shearer, Barton, Acuna and Glass. Oliver Bernard was also spotted - quite when we'll see him play is still uncertain.

Afterwards coach Tommy Craig commented:

"I thought we had a bit of style after conceding the early goal which made things tough for us. For the last hour or so I felt some of the stuff we played was very good, though perhaps we over-elaborated. That tends to happen when you get so much of the ball.

"With Lua Lua you never know what he's going to do but invariably it's going to be something special, And I think the fans got their money's worth in terms of entertainment from him alone.

"Then our third goal rounded off the night nicely - it was a good, well-worked goal and meant the game was well won in the end."

Biffa