NEWCASTLE UNITED RES 1
SUNDERLAND RES 3
Premier Reserve League North
Kingston Park
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Kick off 7pm

Craig Hope reports from Kingston Park ...

STEPHEN Carr came through 90 minutes of his comeback match but ended up on the losing side as Sunderland Reserves ran-out 3-1 winners at Kingston Park.

The game also marked a competitive debut for French teenager Wesley Ngo Baheng and a return to reserve team action for Andy Carroll following his loan spell at Preston.

And it was Carroll who had an early chance to open the scoring, the 19-year-old scuffing his far post volley into the floor from Carr's deep delivery before turning the loose ball wide with an ambitious overhead effort.

Anthony Stokes then volleyed just inches over on 15 minutes after a long pump downfield dropped kindly for the Irish international on the edge of the area.

Carroll saw another good opportunity go begging in the 22nd minute, Jonny Godsmark scampering away down the right-wing before picking out the United frontman at the far post, but he could only direct his left-foot strike back across goal instead of past Black Cats stopper Trevor Carson.

And the Magpies were to pay the price for that missed opening as Stokes (24) fired the visitors in front, the former Arsenal youngster slotting low past a rooted Fraser Forster after Callum Morris had given away possession just inside the area.

That advantage should have been doubled just seconds later but Greg Halford saw his thumping header rebound of the United crossbar from Ross Wallace's sweeping left-wing delivery.

Sunderland, with the wind at their backs, took control of the remainder of the first-half and should have had a second in the 37th minute, both Stokes and David Connolly unable to get a shot away inside a crowded penalty area after Richardson had crossed from the right.

Forster prevented the Wearsiders from making it two seven minutes after the interval as he raced from his line to block Connolly's close range shot.

But the 19-year-old keeper was helpless as Stokes got his second just after the hour, the Black Cats frontman applying a poweful finish from 12 yards out after being slipped in by Liam Miller.

United halved the deficit within four minutes, keeper Carson unable to handle Carr's whipped set-piece before Peter Hartley inadvertently turned into his own net from inside the six-yard box.

The Geordies were buoyed by that strike and could have drawn level in the 79th minute, Carson dashing out of his area to save with his feet from Godsmark after the pacey winger had been played in by Carroll.

But the result was safe when substitute Jamie Chandler cracked a low strike past Forster with just seven minutes left on the clock.

NUFC: Fraser Forster, Stephen Carr, Darren Lough, David Edgar, Callum Morris, Alex Francis, Wesley Ngo Baheng (James Marwood, 68m), Mark Doninger (Frank Wiafe Danquah, 90m), Andy Carroll, Kazenga LuaLua, Jonny Godsmark (Ryan Donaldson, 84m)
Subs not used: Alex Patterson, Patrick McLaughlin

SAFC: Trevor Carson, Robbie Weir (Jamie Chandler, 46m), Ian Harte, Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Peter Hartley (Gavin Donoghue, 75m), Jake Richardson (David Dowson, 46m), Liam Miller, Anthony Stokes, David Connolly, Ross Wallace
Subs not used: Jamie Chandler, Jordan Henderson

Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 971