MARK Bertram struck a late winner as a Newcastle United XI ran out 3-2 winners over Newcastle Benfield at Sam Smith's Park on Tuesday.

With the teams sharing four goals after an entertaining first-half, full-back Bertram (82) popped up on the edge of the Benfield area to fire a deflected effort past a wrong-footed Andrew Grainger to snatch victory for United.

But it was the hosts who had the better of the opening exchanges, Mark Atkinson firing snarrowly over the bar on 13 minutes after a right-wing cross from Paul Buzzeo.

Centre-forward Anthony Shandran was then denied by a fine, finger-tipped save from Fraser Forster just two minutes later as Benfield pressed for an opener.

Frank Wiafe Danquah struck a post for the Magpies before Forster was again called into action, this time denying Brian Dodsworth from close range.

The visitors again struck the woodwork through Mark Doninger before eventually taking the lead on the half hour mark.

Kazenga LuaLua glided by the challenge of the Benfield full-back on the left-hand touchline and darted in-field before seeing his deflected shot snestle into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

And the black and whites made it two just three minutes later, James Marwood this time cutting in from the right flank and drilling a low effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

But somehow United managed to squander that two-goal lead before the break, first Dodsworth (40) converting from the spot after Doninger fouled Buzzeo, and then Shandran (43) forcing the ball home from inside the six-yard box following a goalmouth scramble in the visitors' area.

Dodsworth went close to grabbing his second just moments after the restart, only a last-gasp goal-line clearance from Callum Morris denying the Benfield forward.

Godsmark and Doninger both had good efforts saved before Bertram saw his 82nd minute drive take a wicked deflection off centre-back Phil Lumsden and win the pre-season encounter for United.

Afterwards, Academy Manager Joe Joyce told nufc.co.uk: "It was a great workout for the lads and credit to Benfield I thought they did very well.

"But I was very pleased with our lads playing against an older team and it was a good way to get our pre-season going, and of course it's always nice to get a win."

NUFC: Fraser Forster, Mark Bertram, Darren Lough, Callum Morris, Alex Francis, Mark Doninger, James Marwood, A Trialist (Patrick McLoughlin 80m), Frank Wiafe Danquah (Dan Neary, 76m), Kazenga LuaLua, Jonny Godsmark

Tickets for Newcastle United's glamour home friendly matches against Celtic on Thursday, Juventus on Sunday and Sampdoria on August 5 are still available from the SJP Box Office and online by clicking below ... For every adult ticket bought in advance from the Box Office you can receive two FREE Under-11 tickets ... Click here for full pre-season friendly info ...