Newcastle Reserves 2, Everton Reserves 1

Mar 17 2009 The Journal

NEWCASTLE United Reserves came from behind to claim victory against Everton at Whitley Park last night.

Among the onlookers at the North Tyneside venue were first-team coaches Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood as well as senior stars Jonas Gutiérrez and Sebastien Bassong.

And they would have no doubt been impressed as Richard Money’s young side extended their unbeaten run to six matches.

But it was the visitors who seized the lead on 15 minutes when centre-back Cory Sinnott prodded home at the far post from Eunan O’Kane’s left-wing free-kick.

Jonny Godsmark came closest to restoring parity before the break when his measured lob beat Scottish goalkeeper Iain Turner but not recovering defender James McCarten, who headed from the goal-line.

And the hosts had to wait until the 65th-minute before drawing level, Mark Doninger flashing a close-range header past Turner from James Tavernier’s whipped centre.

The Magpies were very much in the ascendency and Kazenga LuaLua saw his low drive kept out by the leg of Turner before the keeper jumped to his feet to fist clear Frank Wiafe Danquah’s stinging strike from the rebound. Wesley Ngo Baheng then drifted by two blue shirts before rolling in the over-lapping Godsmark but the wide man could only find the side-netting with his shot on 78 minutes.

But what proved to be the winner came just seconds later, Shane Duffy punished for his hesitancy at the back as the prolific Nile Ranger nicked in to stab past the on-rushing Turner from 18 yards.

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Tavernier, Ferguson (Dummett, 85m), Taylor, Lough, Doninger, LuaLua, Godsmark, Danquah, Ranger, Baheng (McCrudden, 87m). Subs (not used): Soderberg, Morris, Inman.

EVERTON: Turner, Irving, Barnett, Wallace, Sinnott, McCarten (Duffy, 68m) O’Kane (Spencer, 41m), Akpan, Agard, Baxter (Craig, 90m) Kissock. Subs (not used): Stubhaug, Kinsella