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Annan Athletic	1 - 3	Newcastle United
Half time:	0 - 0
Score Sheet:
Docherty (89)		McClen (52) McMenamin (54) McMenamin (87)
	Teams
Tommy Muirhead Mark Little Russell McGuffie Kevin Proudfoot Paul Laurie Davy Irons Steven Leslie Chris Jardine Mark Nicol Trialist K Robison		Jon Brain Ryan McGuffie Andy Griffin Marcelino Steve Caldwell Jamie McClen Stuart Green Mark Boyd Colin McMenamin James Coppinger Olivier Bernard
Substitutes:
M Thomson Philip Docherty T Bell Stan Leslie A Smith S Ferrie		Pedro Dimas for Bernard (59)  Karl Colley for S.Caldwell (61)  Michael Chopra for McClen (63) Andy Ferrell for Griffin (58) Chris Meredith for Green (75)  David Cowan for Coppinger (75) Carl Bell for Brain (79)
Subs not used:
tbc		None
Bookings:
n/a		n/a
Referee: Graeme Allison
Attendance: 500 according to home club, including Bobby Robson.  Galabank itself is in a semi-rural setting on the Eastern approaches to Annan, and although lacking floodlights and a stand, has recently constructed terracing and hard standing around the playing surface. Add to that modern dugouts and a well-appointed clubhouse and the whole setup would put many English non-league clubs to shame.

Half time: Annan Athletic 0 Newcastle Reserves 0

52 mins A long-range effort from McClen, who let fly from a central position well over 30 yards out. 1-0

54 mins Confusion in the home defence allowed James Coppinger to square the ball across the Annan box to the unguarded McMenamin, who knocked it home from 12 yards.  2-0

87 mins With a benevolent referee waving play on, Michael Chopra played a through ball to David Cowan on the right, who outpaced two defenders and cut into the box. Looking poised to shoot, he instead unselfishly rolled the ball to the penalty spot, where McMenamin again was on hand to poke home a third. 3-0

89 mins  Something for the home fans to cheer, as Docherty found himself perfectly positioned to divert a colleague's goalbound effort past substitute 'keeper Carl Bell, following an Annan corner that United failed to deal with. 3-1

Full time: Annan Athletic 1 Newcastle Reserves 3

A dapper looking Tommy Craig paused from munching his scotch pie to say:

"It was a tough game, it was a difficult game in terms of the physical side but that's what we needed.

"I thought they we're well organised and we had to work hard for our win. Also the attitude of the first team players was first class."

Meanwhile Olivier Bernard reflected on his unexpected inclusion in the senior squad this season:

"It was my debut against Lokeren so I was a little nervous but it was very good and I enjoyed it," and if I can play again on Wednesday against 1860 Munich that would be very good for me too.

"I thought I handled the step up on Saturday and played okay. I was comfortable and just tried to play for the team. Tomorrow's game is a massive one and I hope I'm involved.

"At the moment we have some injuries so I'm in the first team squad but when all the first team players are back it's going to be difficult."

Back to the pleasant surroundings of the borders for the second time in a week, and the tranquil setting of East of Scotland league champions Annan Athletic.

To the disappointment of at least one elderly member of the home support, United opted not to wear their black and white shirts and instead debuted the new grey/blue away ensemble, soon to be in the shops.

Leading out United on his return to Galabank was former Annan defender Ryan McGuffie, now learning his trade as a full-time footballer on Tyneside, along with another Annan old boy, Colin "the poacher" McMenamin.

The slightly-built McMenamin had a quiet game, but in typical fashion was on hand to steer home the second and third goals of the night, taking him on to five for the season. McGuffie saw more of the action, but was almost embarrassed by his brother Russell on 25 minutes, when he took the ball off Steve Caldwell on the edge of the United area, only to fire his shot tamely towards 'keeper Brain.

Despite playing on what looked a decent enough surface, United didn't slip into their usual passing style in the same way they had against Berwick and Ashington, and were mostly restricted to wayward headed efforts from corners plus the odd blast from long range.

Come the second half and things weren't a great deal different, as the hosts battled with the Newcastle side all over the field in a tenacious but sporting style. However, within seven minutes of the restart one of the aforementioned long-range efforts gave the visitors the lead.

Jamie McClen had to wait until April of last season before registering his first strike, but the midfielder got off the mark when blazed away from 35 yards with a stunning effort that flew into the right hand corner of the goal. 

With the first team currently deficient in the central midfield area and Bobby Robson an interested onlooker, the goal will have done the lad's profile no harm at all, but in truth it was his major contribution to the game, as his passes failed to reach team mates all too often

With McClen occupying a central midfield role aided by Mark Boyd, Stuart Green was again pushed out in a wide right position. Olivier Bernard was handed the chance to impress in the left sided role that Wayne Quinn had occupied in a decidedly average way for the first team against Lokeren. Neither player particularly enhanced their reputations on this occasion, but both have done enough in the recent past to suggest that their future advancement won't be harmed by an average display in this match.

Once ahead, United's superior touch and fitness were always likely to see them increase their lead and so it proved, with two close-range efforts from McMenamin that caused home fans and players alike to question the optical competence of one of the linesmen. In fairness, the same linesman seemed rather quicker to raise his flag in the first period when Annan were raiding forward, but those protesting most forcibly were revealed to be interlopers from Dumfries, moonlighting as Annan fans and checking us out before Saturday's big game at Queen of the South.

Tommy Craig also took the opportunity to introduce a whole host of new faces to this level of football, most notably the much-vaunted Michael Chopra. In a similar fashion to his Academy striking partner Richard Offiong the previous week, he seemed to take the step up in his stride - it'll be interesting to see how often the pair are given their head in the reserve league this season rather than the Under 19 youth games they are entitled to take part in.

One or two other youngsters made their bow in the reserve side, including a recent Newcastle signing, burly defender Karl Colley. Actually, to call the lad burly is an understatement, he's built like a brick outhouse....Karl competed (and actually scored) against United at under 19 level last season for Sheffield Wednesday but was subsequently released by the Hillsborough club.

From memory he didn't enjoy facing Chopra, who swept past him twice to score last season, but at Annan he seemed to relish the physical aspects of the game, and made a couple of clearances that may well have damaged the ball, and anything that got in it's way, had he not belted it into orbit. 

The contrast with his foppish defensive partner Marcelino was there for all to see, a hopeful youngster awarded a second chance and an overpaid under-motivated former international lolloping around like a pantomime horse. If we can't get him a transfer, then how about a tranquiliser gun?  
 
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