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Newcastle United	1 - 1	Everton
Half time:	0 - 1
Score Sheet:
Dimas (79)		Unsworth (31)
	Teams
John Karelse Ryan McGuffie Olivier Bernard Steve Caldwell Sylvain Distin Jamie McClen Stuart Green Brian Kerr Lomana LuaLua James Coppinger Mark Boyd		Steve Simonsen Tony Hibbert Kevin McLeod Dave Unsworth George Pilkington Thomas Kearney Damien Curran Matt McKay Nick Chadwick Danny Cadamateri David Eaton
Substitutes:
Colin McMenamin for Coppinger (60) Pedro Dimas for Green (71) David Cowan for McGuffie (77)		n/a
Subs not used:
Jon Brain		Steven Schumacher Andrew Pettinger Alan Moogan David Carney
Bookings:
n/a		n/a
Referee: N.Miller - assisted by the 4th official D.Burn, who we think was formerly a priest in Father Ted.
Attendance:  1,042. The decision to axe the advance ticket restriction didn't look to have paid off at kickoff, with seemingly just the usual crowd in the ground, but a few more must have sneaked in to top the 1,000 mark. One or two away supporters also made the trip.

20 mins  A slightly harsh decision from the referee gave Everton a free kick on the right side of the Newcastle area, and David Unsworth stepped up to hit a low curling 30 yard effort that beat Karelse and went in off a post. 0-1 

Half time: Newcastle Reserves 0 Everton Reserves 1

88 mins A right wing cross was whipped in by Boyd after a sustained period of United pressure, and Pedro Dimas claimed the final touch with what looked his shin from 12 yards, the Everton defender marking him unable to block the effort. 1-1 

Full time: Newcastle Reserves 1 Everton Reserves 1

A slightly downbeat Tommy Craig said:

"I hope that wasn't the sign of things to come.

"Everton got a goal and then it was up to us to display more flair and imagination.
"I felt we were a little bit poor in front of goal - over the course of the 90 minutes we had enough possession to win the game.

"It's disappointing as people have probably read about our two performances away from home this season and expected the same at Kingston Park, but having said that I thought our two centre-halves were excellent.

"John Karelse made a fantastic save to keep us in the game and Brian Kerr came through another game on his comeback.

"We were a little powder-puff in front of goal and a little lacking in imagination. We had a lot of good possession and passing, but it was all in front of them and we have to be aware of teams coming here and making life difficult for us.

"That said, I think it was Xmas before we had as many points last season, so we're well ahead of schedule. But i'm expecting better things from the team this season."

Back to the uncomfortable surroundings of Kingston Park for another season of wind-affected reserve games, and in the first fixture the weather was it's usual miserable self. A gusting wind affected the game throughout, and a number of squally rain showers in the second half sent punters dashing for cover and saw many retreat back to the comfort of the bar. Cowards.

Those still in position saw United extend their unbeaten league run at this level to 6 games, but it looked for a long time as if Everton would claim their third successive victory at Kingston Park. 

Our second half performance was an improvement on the opening 45, when we struggled to play into the wind, and once we realised that playing the ball on the deck was the only sure-fire way to ensure accuracy, our approach play was ok. However, in front of goal our final pass was wayward and most of our attempts to beat Simonsen forgettable.

A goal had seemed likely for most of the second half, but when Boyd had grazed the crossbar, Bernard seen his volley cleared off the line, LuaLua wasted a good chance and even Distin had a crack on goal, it looked like we'd never score.

Finally however, substitute Dimas converted Boyd's centre and the final ten minutes saw some frantic pressure applied by the home side, with LuaLua in top ball -juggling mode, as well as making some excellent passes - is he finally learning we wonder?

A point each was probably a fair result in a game that wasn't a rip-roaring football feast, but provided decent entertainment after the break for the crowd. Everton would no doubt feel that only being one ahead at the break was a poor return, after missing two other gilt-edged chances, and Karelse made a vital stop in the second half that would otherwise have sealed the away win. Everton were hanging on at the finish, but survived to claim their fourth successive 1-1 draw of the season.    

Biffa 

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