Tuesday evening saw Newcastle make their first return to the Abbey Stadium of Cambridge United since April 1993, as they provided the opposition in a friendly commemorating the centenary of their founding.

Dropping out of the Football League in 2005, the U's lost 1-2 at Macclesfield in their season closing game on Saturday, ensuring a fourteenth place finish in the Conference Premier League. They're managed by ex-Magpies youth coach Richard Money, who used his contacts to secure a toon XI.

On a sunny evening, Newcastle led after two minutes, with home 'keeper Craig Ross guilty of a poor clearance before slack defending handed possession to Jonathyn Quinn and he set up Romain Amalfitano to drill home. 

Looking to respond, Liam Hughes headed narrowly over from a fifth minute corner for Cambridge, before Luke Berry tested toon 'keeper Jonathan Mitchell three minutes later with a deflected shot from the edge of the box.

Further pressure from the U's saw striker Hughes test Mitchell twice more, with the former Scunthorpe United trainee seeing a 36th minute effort saved at the near post before a close-range shot a moment later was smothered by the visiting custodian.

Making four substitutions at the break, replacement U's 'keeper Jonathan Hedge was then quickly in the action after 48 minutes when he parried Brandon Miele's shot.

Cambridge levelled ten minutes into the second half when the match referee deemed that Miele had fouled Scott Garner in the area, danger man Hughes converting the resultant penalty.

Hughes then saw an effort cleared off the line by Quinn before Curtis Haynes-Brown headed narrowly over Mitchell's crossbar.

Wearing the number 8 shirt, Peter Beardsley then made his entrance on 63 minutes. Technically speaking, he's an over-age player for the U21s, at the age of 52....

Pedro showed some deft touches but it was Cambridge who threatened a winner, their most impressive performer Tom Shaw turning and firing narrowly over the crossbar in the 81st minute.

With all of the Newcastle subs used, Amalfitano then made way for Steven Logan in the closing stages - the latter having played for the first 63 minutes.

What proved to be the winner arrived on 88 minutes when a ball into the box from James Tavernier bounced straight in - Magpies substitute Tom Heardman almost getting his head to it, but not looking to have made any contact.

Leaving the field at that point, Beardsley then returned within a minute for Cambridge, clad in their number 7 shirt amid great applause. However he was unable to inspire an equaliser for the home side despite three added minutes and a refereee giving a dubious corner and looking for a penalty when the flag kick was delivered.

A quick mention for man of the match Kevin Mbabu who looked strong and assured in whatever defensive role he was given. And having just turned 18, he was one of the youngest players on the pitch. 

By contrast, six home players including three of tonight's starting XI (Craig Ross, Ross Jarvis and Curtis Haynes-Brown) received confirmation of their release by Cambridge after the game.

PS: post-match tweeters claimed that Peter's late cameo on Tuesday made him the best player to have appeared for Cambridge in their 100 year history, but they're almost 35 years too late!

Attempting to win his first professional contract, Peter was invited to Cambridge on trial in 1979 and played in a 1-1 midweek draw at Newmarket Town. However U's Manager John Docherty was clearly less than impressed and sent Beardsley home three days early....

Biffa

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