Having been knocked for six in their last outing by league leaders Spurs, Newcastle's second string gave a rather better account of themselves on Monday night, but lost further ground after failing to provide any goal threat.

Things started promisingly at a mild and dry Whitley Park when the ball fell to Xisco within the first minute, but the striker who bagged a hat trick in our last home game couldn't beat visiting 'keeper, Jonathan Sutherland.

That was the only major action in the first 20 minutes, before the first of three yellow cards for the opposition was shown to Marnick Vermijl after catching Romain Amalfitano with a stray boot.

Xisco's neat cushion header on the halfway line just after the half hour set Brad Inman away on a counter attack but his shot was comfortably dealt with by Sutherland.

A minute later some good work by Mehdi Abeid on the edge of the box saw him hold the ball up until Xisco arrived, only for the Spaniard to blaze his shot over.

The first noticeable involvement of Federico Macheda came on 40 minutes, but the striker who scored a hat-trick against us in 2009 and hit a brace earlier this season - turned on the edge of the box but fired wide. By then, Amalfitano had taken another whack on his ankle and hobbled off to be replaced by Dennis Knight.

The visitors went ahead shortly after the restart when Tom Thorpe headed Adnan Januzaj's corner past Jak Alnwick. However that sparked Newcastle into life and Knight sent a two long range efforts just over the bar.

Xisco was then replaced - leaving the field with the slightest of limps - and a reshuffle saw JJ Hooper move across to centre forward, Moyo replace him on the left flank and Michael Riley come on to play at left back.

Putting pressure on the visitors and with Mehdi Abeid looking to bring his colleagues into the play from a central midfield position, the scores were level on 58 minutes. 

Marcus Maddison was upended on the corner of the box, taking the free kick himself and shooting on goal. That effort was spilled by Sutherland and Conor Newton followed up to tuck home the rebound for a first ever competitive goal at this level.

Parity was restored for just seven minutes though, before another corner kick from the visitors wasn't adequately dealt with and Tom Lawrence found the ball at his feet - the Welsh youth international netting from close range.  

Moyo went close to levelling again on 77 minutes but he headed just wide after Newton's deep cross from the right picked him out.

And some late pressure by Newcastle saw Sutherland turn a fierce Abeid effort round the post late on, but three corners in added time failed to conjure up an equaliser.

The Magpies second string return to action next Monday night when they make the short trip to wearside for a reserve team derby match at the stadium of plight.

Biffa

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