Bright sunshine greeted Tommy Craig and his reserve squad as they made their regular excursion across to Cumbria on Friday evening without Gary Caldwell or Brian Kerr, originally named in the squad, but later allowed to go to Derby and Livingston respectively on loan.

With queues outside Borough Park, kick-off was delayed to allow the 1,019 crowd in. However, they had little to entertain them in the opening 10 minutes, save for a Carl Cort shot on 6 minutes that was ruled out for offside.

The game came to life in the 11th minute when referee Brumwell harshly penalised Newcastle captain Bradley Orr for a handball inside the area. Justice was done though when Tony Caig dived acrobatically to his right to palm away the spot kick from Alan Gray.

On 20 minutes £7m striker Carl Cort showed good skill to get on the end of an Orr through ball, elude two defenders and test the home 'keeper with a powerful shot.

And it was Cort who supplied the pass for the opening goal on 34 minutes, after Town captain was caught in possession midway in his own half. Jamie McClen had the relatively simple task of rolling the ball past the 'keeper.

Newcastle opted to utilise all four subs at the interval and with his first touch, winger Alan O'Brien struck the underside of the crossbar.

With the Unibond side showing little up front, the Magpies inevitably extended their lead on 58 minutes.

A rapid counter-attack led by Orr caught the home side out and his through ball to Richard Offiong saw the striker outpace Fitzhenry and he shot home with a low effort from the edge of the area.

It took another 11 minutes for United to move further ahead, defender Steven Taylor joining the attack and teeing up Wayne Quinn to convert from 20 yards.

Further goals were prevented by a couple of fine saves from the Workington 'keeper Steven Pape, notably from Taylor on 75 minutes.

And it was Pape again with three minutes remaining, frustrating Carl Cort from close range after a slick build-up down the United left ended with a fine cross from O'Brien.

However from the resulting corner sent over by Quinn, Cort grabbed his first and Newcastle's fourth with a firm header.

With many black and white shirts in evidence on the terraces, Cort and his colleagues were warmly applauded as they left the field.

And also taking his bow was 17 year-old Stuart Foster, who won an online auction to play the final 10 minutes of this match as a substitute, his rumoured £200 bid going to boost club funds.

Normally a central defender for his school and Sunday League side, Foster saw little of the ball as he occupied a central midfield position.

However, he did have one memorable moment, as he outjumped Clarence Acuna to win an aerial challenge.