Two goals from Academy striker Lewis Guy couldn't stop league leaders Aston Villa from recording another victory on Tuesday night, but a youngish United side at least gave a decent account of themselves before succumbing to defeat.

The usual sparse crowd at Villa Park saw the home side take a 32nd minute lead through a Luke Moore tap-in, after United 'keeper Tony Caig had failed to hold an angled effort from Stephen Cooke.

At that stage Villa just about deserved their lead, some enterprising Newcastle attacking, often involving Robbie Elliott, having failed to produce efforts to test Myhill in the Villa goal.

By contrast Villa had tested the goalframe Caig was defending in the 23rd minute with a piledriver of a freekick from Peter Whittingham that bounced away to safety.

However the Magpies went into the half time break on level terms, thanks to a deep left wing cross from Wayne Quinn that was met with a looping header from Guy.

Although the home 'keeper got a hand to it, he succeeded only in pushing the ball into the net via the far post.

The second half almost got off to a great start for the visitors when Guy stooped to head home another cross from Quinn, only for a questionable offside flag to rule it out.

That was in the 46th minute but within another 12 minutes Villa had retaken the lead and Guy then put us back on level terms again only for the home side to retake a lead they were to sustain.

It was 2-1 on 55 minutes when a Cooke cross from the right was headed home powerfully by Peter Hynes.

Back came Newcastle, and within a minute an offside-looking Guy was allowed to latch on to a through ball and drive a fine shot past the goalkeeper from 12 yards for 2-2.

But our backline was to be crucially exposed, with central defender Chris Carr waiting to come on as Luke Moore's left wing centre was powered home via the head of an unmarked Liam Ridgewell.

Newcastle coach Tommy Craig did his best to freshen up the side, but with striker Calvin Zola having a night to forget and a lack of attacking options on the bench, Villa began to ease away and threaten further goals.

One more came on 80 minutes when Taylor was harshly penalised for a foul on Whittingham, and from the centrally-located free kick Stephen Cooke converted with the minimum of fuss, apparently taking advantage of an incorrectly positioned defensive wall.

However a string of good stops from Newcastle keeper Caig had denied Villa in the second half, and this was topped by an 82nd minute penalty save from Luke Moore, after a linesman had spotted a handball from Newcastle captain Steven Taylor.

All in all, not a great night for United but some bright spots from a young side who undoubtedly benefited from playing on a decent surface, as opposed to the unsuitable conditions imposed on them at Kingston Park and Gateshead Stadium.

Reserve league debuts for Alan O'Brien and Aaron Labonte, who had played against us last week for Sheffield Wednesday reserves on trial from Newcastle.

Biffa 

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