28 mins Drennan shot 0-1

30 mins Hooper shot 1-1

32 mins Burke penalty 1-2

Half time: United 2 Villa 2

49 mins Carruthers shot 1-3

62 mins Maddison shot 2-3

Full time: United 2 Villa 3

A rare Sunday game for Newcastle's second string saw them go down by the odd goal in five at Whitley Park, ending their home programme for 2012 on a low note.

After a quiet opening spell, Conor Newton saw a 17th minute shot blocked by visiting 'keeper Craig Hall, but no team mate was on hand to profit from the loose ball.

And with seconds, JJ Hooper had sight of goal when the lively Marcus Maddison centred, but the Magpies front man could only steer his effort harmlessly wide.

The game then burst into life on 28 minutes, when some lax defending from United allowed Villa right back Josh Barton to send over a deep cross from the right flank, Michael Drennan afforded time to take the ball down before lofting it over the stranded Jak Alnwick.

Back came the black and whites though and after winning a free kick down towards the left hand corner, Hooper made his way into the box and was able to touch home Maddision's free kick at the near post. 
 
However the Villans hit soon led again when Graham Burke was nudged in the area by Michael Riley on 32 minutes and Burke got up to tuck home the penalty after some debate with a colleague over who would take it.

The visitors extended their lead four minutes after the break when Samir Carruthers was allowed to run across the box and shoot home. Again though Newcastle looked to respond quickly and within two minutes Maddison had tricked his way to the right byline and when he crossed to the back post, Yven Moyo got ahead of a defender to head goalwards.

Lacking pace, the ball spun off the post and looked to have crossed the goal line, but the linesman failed to  give the goal - admitting later that he was unsure as whether it was over and therefore couldn't give it. 

And after Hooper had blasted over when well-placed, United managed to reduce the arrears just after hour mark when Maddison picked his spot and netted with a low left-footer from the edge of the area for his third reserve goal of the season. 

However a Newcastle equaliser never looked very likely, with some careless play seeing them squander both chances and possession - in particular poor corners and foul throws. And at the other end, only a smart save from Alnwick prevented Burke from grabbing his second of the game and Villa's fourth.

The teamsheet included Lubomir Satka at number 6 but he failed to take the field before kickoff due to injury on what was his 17th birthday. Lee Desmond was hastily promoted from the bench into the starting lineup, wearing shirt number 14 on what was his reserve debut.

This is the second successive reserve game that Satka's name was on the teamsheet in the XI but he failed to start, the same thing happening away at the mackems. He did however play the full 90 minutes for United's U18 side against Arsenal in midweek.  

Biffa

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