40 mins Zola shot 1-0

Half time: Everton 0 Newcastle 1

51 mins Rooney shot 1-1

57 mins Zola shot 2-1

63 mins Chopra shot  3-1

70 mins Rooney volley  3-2

87 mins Cave  cross / shot  4-2

Full time: Everton 2 Newcastle 4  

Tommy Craig commented:

to follow.....

Fellow Scot David Moyes said of two-goal Rooney:

"I still think he's short of match practice -  I think he is quite a bit off yet before he is ready to play. The game would have done him real good though."

While reserve coach Andy Holden lamented poor defending:

"It was a disappointing result, especially in the manner we conceded the goals.

"I thought that every goal they scored we could have done something about.. There was some poor defending going on out there. I always felt that we were going to score, but I always felt that we were going to concede.

"The main positive to take from the night was Wayne Rooney looking sharp again,
I thought he got stronger as the game went on, scored two great goals and could have had a hat-trick. The more games he plays, the better it will be for Everton.

"We were 0-1 down at half-time and came out a lot better in the second half. As per usual, Wayne has come up trumps and got us back into the game. We just conceded another two suicidal goals."

Wayne Rooney scored twice for Everton, but it was Calvin Zola Makongo (picured) and the young Newcastle side who took centre stage after an impressive victory at Haig Avenue on Wednesday evening.

A sizeable crowd had rolled up to see the much-admired Everton striker continue his comeback after pre-season injury, many young fans having little interest in anything other than their idol.

And Toffee's boss David Moyes was on hand to get a first-hand account of how his protégé was faring, but will have left the game with at least a sneaking admiration for the manner in which the inexperienced visiting line-up set about their task.

With half time approaching the game was scoreless, with Rooney's main contribution a ball into space for Steve Schumacher to get a sight of goal but blaze his shot well over.

Newcastle for their part had opened brightly, matching their opponents for industry and energy and through the efforts of Zola, testing Everton 'keeper Turner.

And had a number of questionable offside flags against the United striker not being given (much to the annoyance of coach Tommy Craig) then he could have broken the deadlock before his 40th minute piledriver.

There seemed little danger when Webster picked up the ball in the Everton half, but his pass to Zola on the corner of the Everton box saw the striker flick the ball on to his right foot before slamming the ball home into the far side of the net past a helpless goalkeeper.

The majority of the crowd had come to see some Rooney magic and they weren't to be disappointed when he levelled from almost the same place as Zola just six minutes after the break.

But undaunted, Newcastle continued to attack in numbers whenever possible and gained their reward twice within six minutes.

Firstly, there was another stunning strike from Zola, picking up a ball down the United left thanks to the persistence of Pattison before unleashing another rocket that entered the net at the join of the 'keeper's left hand post and the crossbar before dropping down.

Zola turned, arm aloft to salute the crowd and was then promptly substituted, Offiong waiting to replace him before the goal. The departing striker was deservedly applauded by the crowd as he left the pitch.

And it was the replacement striker who set up our third goal on 63 minutes, his surging run towards the Everton goal leaving the ageing Weir gasping, before playing Michael Chopra to finish from 12 yards. 

Offiong's brief contribution though was curtailed when he pulled up sharply with hamstring trouble and was replaced by striker Guy Bates for the final 20 minutes.

The action then switched back to the other end as the increasingly dangerous Rooney found a yard of space in our box to pull down a right wing cross with one foot, before swivelling and volleying home in one movement - absolute class.

He almost completed his hat trick when he burst into the box after eluding the tackle of Chris Carr, but Tony Caig was equal to the task, diving low to his right to push away Rooney's effort.

Caig was called into action with two minutes remaining, punching a Rooney header over his crossbar. By then though, United had taken a decisive 4-2 lead, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.

After creating a number of opportunities with some rapid counter-attacking, Chopra testing the 'keeper on three occasions, United found themselves with strength in numbers on the edge of the Everton area.

Both Bates and Webster tried to wriggle through the home rearguard before the ball was partially cleared by a defender, falling to United defender Cave on the left.

He shaped to return the ball back into the box, only for his deep cross to catch out the Everton 'keeper and end up in the far corner of the goal. As he was congratulated by team mates, Cave at least had the decency to look vaguely embarrassed.

So, a successful beginning to the new Premier Reserve season, achieved by an
inexperienced Newcastle side who showed bags of energy and endeavour, plus
no little skill.

For the watching Tommy Craig a measure of satisfaction that his youthful charges served up an infinitely more committed and professional performance than £20m's worth of disinterested first team fringe players had done the previous day in the Pontins League draw with Darlington.

It's a great pity that Sir Bobby was away watching England rather than witnessing this heartening display and also that the long-suffering home reserve fans on Tyneside didn't get to see this thoroughly entertaining
match.

We don't usually dole out man of the match awards, but tonight the whole team were deserved recipients of that honour. Special mention for Matty Pattison, who just about ran himself into the ground and to Calvin Zola for two memorable goals.

If one thing summed up this performance, it was the sight of Calvin Zola back helping his defence at 1-0 and winning possession with a header dangerously near the raised boot of an opponent - as heartening as it was unexpected.

Biffa

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