Gateshead 1-4 Newcastle United XI

02/08/2012, by Jeff Bowron

Gateshead slipped to another pre-season defeat despite a battling second half display that brought no reward.

The final scoreline was harsh on The Heed but United's young guns put in an impressive shift and took their chances well.

Just as against SPL side Dundee United Ian Bogie's men found themselves two down before the half way mark of the opening period.

After just seven minutes Mehdi Abeid collected a loose ball outside box to fire into former Magpies trainee Adam Bartlett's bottom right hand corner..

Three minutes later Abeid's through ball down the right side of box found Romain Amalifitano, but the summer signing's shot was comfortably saved.

Abeid was the architect again when he found Amalifitano again who ran through the home defence from just inside the Heed half, skipping past challenges before beating Bartlett for a fine solo effort.

Gateshead, however, were back in it within seven minutes.

James Curtis flicked on Glenn Wilson's right side throw-in, the ball falling for Micky Cummins towards the far post who half-volleyed past Rob Elliott from ten yards.

Another throw-in, this time on the left, from Paddy Boyle saw Liam Hatch put a near post header wide just before the break.

Gateshead made five changes for the second half and an early Boyle free-kick saw Curtis's strike cleared off the line by former Heed loanee Paul Dummett.

Gateshead took the game to Newcastle with substitute Yemi Odubade leading the charge.

The striker dispossessed Gael Bigirimana and charged towards goal with a great run only to drag his shot wide of the target.

Odubade then fed Boyle, also impressive, on the left wing whose pass picked out trialist Ryan McGorrigan in the box but the former United trainee shot over.

Gateshead were piling on the pressure and Odubade's cross saw the unmarked Boyle head over at the back post.

United, however, withstood the barrage and then hit the hosts with a double whammy to kill the game.

Marcus Maddison's 73rd minute corner saw midfield man Connor Newton head across goal and into the top corner.

Maddison then made it four a minute later with a great lob over Bartlett from the right side of the box.

James Marwood's cross shot almost beat Elliott but there was no way back for Gateshead.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Wilson (Magnay 45m), Boyle, Curtis, Clark, Chandler (Marwood 60m), Cummins (Bush 45), Turnbull, Fisher (McCorrigan 45), Hatch (Odubade 45), Brown (Gillies 45m)

Newcastle Utd XI: Elliot, Richardson, Dummett, Bigirimana, Tavernier, Good (Riley 79), Amalfitano (Nicholson 46), Newton (Knight 79), Hooper (Maddison 46), Abeid (Henderson 84), Inman

Referee: Scott Duncan (Newcastle)

Att: 1,274

Liam Hatch