Manchester Utd Res 3 Newcastle Utd Res 1

Mar 28 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

MANCHESTER United struck three times in just six minutes to condemn the Magpies to a first defeat in five outings at the venue of Marston's Arena in Northwich.

Shola Ameobi’s loan switch to Stoke City meant Adam Sadler was forced to shuffle his pack at the 11th hour with Dutch youngster Frank Wiafe Danquah coming in.

Peter Ramage was also included for his second successive start having returned from cruciate ligament damage and he was joined in defence by Senegal new boy Lamine Diatta.

But it was the hosts who almost broke the deadlock after just five minutes, Chris Eagles’ low drive turned around the post by a full-stretch Fraser Forster.

Gosforth-born Mark Doninger was to be forced off because of illness midway through the first-half but not before he had tested England stopper Ben Foster with a dipping free-kick from distance.

Congloese midfielder Kazenga LuLua then saw a similar effort saved by the Red Devils stopper after 25 minutes.

And the elusive opener eventually came on 38 minutes, James Marwood hitting Tamas Kadar’s high cross into the turf before the lurking Jonny Godsmark turned home from 12 yards.

Newcastle had keeper Forster to thank for preserving their lead until the break as he punched clear a stinging Eagles drive three minutes before the interval. But Forster’s target was breached nine minutes after the restart, Italian forward Federico Macheda converting Mikael Silvestre’s left-wing centre from close range.

The Devils had the lead within two minutes, striker Danny Welbeck producing a moment of sublime skill to spin away from two defenders before firing into the roof of the net.

And the shell-shocked visitors were trailing by two goals soon after, Welbeck and Eagles combining on the edge of the area with the latter coolly slotting home past a helpless Forster.

Sadler’s side refused to give in but the home side held on and will now travel to the North East for Monday’s reverse fixture.

MAN UNITED RESERVES: Foster, Evans (Brady, 46) Silvestre, Eckersley, Chester, Jones, Eagles, Possebon (Galbraith, 41) Welbeck, Macheda, Cleverley. Subs not used: Norwood, Zieler, Eikrem

NEWCASTLE UNITED RESERVES: Forster, Ramage, T Kadar, L Diatta, B Tozer, J Godsmark, M Doninger (D Lough, 29) (C Morris 78), Wiafe, Danquah (McLaughlin, 82) Marwood, Baheng, LuaLua. Subs not used: M Johnson, S Ferguson