After the first team and U18 side's recent defeats by their Manchester United counterparts, it was the turn of our reserve side to face the Red Devils on Friday night.

Willie Donachie's side took to the field at the Moss Lane home of Altrincham in front of the MUFC cameras and a small crowd of spectators who were soon suffering in monsoon-like conditions.

The Magpies opened brightly and JJ Hooper saw his cross cum shot tipped over early on before Romain Amalfitano drove narrowly wide from distance.

Next to show was Mehdi Abeid, who saw a long range effort after nine minutes turned away for a corner, but the Red Devils went ahead just before the quarter hour.

Federico Macheda grabbed a hat trick in a reserve game at SJP back in 2009 and the Italian striker needed no second bidding when played in before sweeping the ball beyond Jak Alnwick. 

However, that lead last just four minutes before winger Marcus Maddison took a Brad Inman pass and slotted home his second goal of the season, days after celebrating his 19th birthday.

Our prolific pairing of Inman and Adam Campbell then came close to a second goal, the former providing a slide rule pass for the Campbell to run on to, sending his goalbound shot cannoning off Johnstone's legs.

Ryan Tunnicliffe - who had played in the League Cup tie on Wednesday - then came close to restoring the home side's lead, his free kick sending Alnwick scurrying across his goal but ending up in the side netting. 

Chances continued to appear at either end as the rain eased off and Newcastle defender Curtis came close before the home side regained the lead on 33 minutes, when an unmarked Davide Petrucci side-footed home in the box.

Back came the visitors though and just three minutes later it was 2-2 when Amalfitano fed Brad Inman, dummied a defender and let fly with a left footer to register his sixth goal of the season.

The Magpies ended the first half in the ascendancy, with Maddison and Campbell trying their luck. A revitalised Red Devils side struck again eight minutes after the restart though, when Macheda headed home.

Chances then became more sporadic with the home side having the better of the exchanges and Newcastle starting to run out of steam.

However, Hooper was still able to bring saves out of Johnstone on 78 and 84 minutes - one a deflected effort and the other a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner before the 'keeper palmed it round his post.

At the other end, meanwhile, Alnwick had to be alert to tip over an effort from substitute Angelo Henriquez with nine minutes of normal time remaining.

And the Red Devils established a two-goal cushion in the final minute of the game when Chilean forward Henriquez supplied a close range header from a right wing centre. 

That was enough to continue his side's 100% record after three games and leave Newcastle without a win in their last three outings, after beginning the season with a pair of victories. 

Our second string record away to the Red Devils is only marginally better than our barren run against the senior side, with only a single win in thirteen attempts:

Man U Res (a) - Premier Reserve League era:

Biffa with thanks to GW

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