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Season 2005-06
Manchester United res (h) Premier Reserve League North
 
 
 
Date: Monday 26th September 2005, 7pm

Venue: Kingston Park

Conditions: 
blustery wind, occasional light drizzle


 

Newcastle United

2 - 0 Manchester United
  Teams

Goals

20 mins Chopra shot 1-0

Half time: Newcastle 1 Man U 0

56 mins Chopra penalty 2-0

Full time: Newcastle 2 Man U 0

We Said


Tommy Craig said:

"It was nice to get back to winning ways after losing the last two.

"I felt that was our best performance of the season overall. We always looked like scoring and we were strong at the back.

"Manchester United were quick on the break as they always are, but we held it together well at the back.

"Michael Chopra played just off Shola and got the goals, with Shola putting in a workmanlike performance.

"On another night Michael would have done the work and Shola would have got the goals.

"The good thing for both of them was that they both got ninety minutes under their belts."
 

Waffle


Striker Michael Chopra celebrated his return to fitness with both the goals that beat a young Manchester United Reserve side at Kingston Park on Monday night.

Right from the off, the Magpies threatened down both flanks, Alan O'Brien raiding down the right and Martin Brittain on the opposite flank - and it was the latter who paved the way for Chopra to convert after 20 minutes. 

Turning his man, Brittain crossed from the right for Ameobi, who failed to control the ball and saw it half-cleared.

However it fell to Daryl Smylie, whose return ball allowed Chopra to turn in the box and fire home his first reserve goal since March 2004.              

After a scare at the opposite end a moment later when Caig's unorthodox stop from Campbell saw him end up lying on top of him, Newcastle went looking to double their lead.

Chopra was almost in for a second on 26 minutes, only for Shawcross to intervene with a clearance from Ameobi's right wing centre.

And Shola himself was denied on 35 minutes, as his goalbound header was blocked on the line by German midfielder Markus Neumayr.

In light drizzle at the end of the first half, Kris Gate almost grabbed his second goal of the season, nodding Brittain's cross narrowly wide after a patient buildup.

The visitors emerged for the second half in determined mood and a timely clearance from Ramage on 52 minutes denied Neumayr an equaliser.

Within a minute though the game was put beyond the reds, as Ameobi broke across the halfway line leaving two defenders in his wake, before finding Chopra with his back to goal in the box.

Shepherded by Shawcross, Chopra turned the defender but was fouled in the process and got up to beat Luke Steele from the spot for his - and our - second goal of the night.

That was the signal for a renewed effort from what was a virtual academy Manchester United side to renew their goal-getting efforts and Tony Caig was by far the busier of the two keepers in the remainder of the game.

While this was a pleasing result and our first home success against the reds in the last four attempts, the result has to be taken in context of our side, six of whom have played at senior level.

However we've often been in this position, having faced the likes of James Beattie and Michael Ricketts already this season when we've been the less experienced of the two sides on the field.

Next up for the reserves is another trip to the North West, where we break new ground with a debut visit to Robins Park - home of new boys Wigan Athletic.

Biffa 

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Page last updated 26 September, 2012