It's Sho Time For Toon

HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1
NEWCASTLE UNITED 3
Victoria Park
Friendly
Tuesday, July 17
Kick-off 7.30pm

Craig Hope reports from Victoria Park ...

 

MATCH REPORT

SHOLA Ameobi was the Magpies' two-goal hero as Sam Allardyce made a winning start to his reign as United manager with a 3-1 win at Hartepool.

The 25-year-old striker, who was a half-time introduction, equalised for the visitors in the 56th minute after James Brown had fired Pools ahead just four minutes after the break.

Kieron Dyer was the architect as his clever pass split open the Hartlepool backline before Ameobi rounded keeper Jan Budtz and slotted into the open net.

And it was Michael Owen who got United's second with his first goal in black and white colours since his hat-trick at West Ham on December 17, 2005.

Dyer again was in the thick of the action as he played in Aussie winger James Troisi, the 18-year-old opted to square for the unmarked Owen and he converted from close range on 58 minutes.

And Ameobi (73) completed the scoring as Pools keeper Budtz spilled his 18-yard effort into the net after Troisi had teed up the striker.

The goal brought chants of "Shola, he's got a brand new hip" from the Toon Army, much to the amusement of the Nigerian-born frontman.

The game marked Magpie debuts for Joey Barton and David Rozehnal as James Troisi, Kazenga LuaLua, Mark Bertram, Darren Lough and Alex Francis made their senior bows.

SECOND HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

88min - Alex Francis gets a run out with Peter Ramage making way.

88min - Robbie Elliott goes close to scoring against his former club with a left-footed drive from all of 35 yards, Harper is never really is trouble however and watches the ball wide of his right-hand post.

84min - Pools winger Brown is again causing problems on the right but this time his cross has a little too much pace on it and clears the home bodies arriving in the penalty area and the ball drifts clear for a goal-kick.

83min - Stephen Turbull replaces Gary Liddle.

82min - James Brown twists inside and out of left-back Darren Lough before firing low towards goal, but the effort is straight at Steve Harper and the United stopper stoops low to save.

78min - Mark Bertram replaces Charles N'Zogbia.

75min - Big Sam gives a run out to Academy players Kazenga LuaLua and Darren Lough as they replace Stephen Carr and Joey Barton.

73min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-3) It's a second for Shola Ameobi as Budtz is unable to hold his 18-yard effort and the ball trickles over the goal-line. It's a second assist for Troisi after he teed up the 25-year-old striker with a neat lay-off.

71min - James Troisi cuts in from the left and decides to shoot, it's a decent effort but it's always rising and goes over the crossbar.

70min - Barton goes close to opening his United account with a 25-yard drive which narrowly clears Budtz's crossbar.

69min - Lee Bullock replaces Antony Sweeney for the hosts.

66min - And Ameobi himself goes close with a sharp shot on the turn inside the area, but Budtz is equal to it and saves with one hand before pouncing on the loose ball. The shot brings chants of "Shola, he's got a brand new hip" from the Toon Army behind the goal.

65min - Shola tries to thread in N'Zogbia but it's too close to the keeper and Budtz dives at the Frenchman's feet to gather.

64min - Matty Pattison replaces Kieron Dyer and Andy Monkhouse comes on for Matty Robson for Pools.

63min - Gary Liddle has a crack towards goal from a good 30 yards out and Harper has to gather at the second attempt.

61min - Hartelpool think they've equalised when Ben Clark heads in Robbie Elliott's corner from close range but the former Sunderland centre-back is penalised for a push on Ramage.

58min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-2) Dyer again skips by a challenge 25 yards from goal and slips the ball wide for Troisi in space, the Australian looks as if he's going to pull the trigger but instead squares for Michael Owen on the edge of the six-yard box and he side-foots into the open goal.

56min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-1) It's Kieron Dyer who drives United forward, the Magpie midfielder runs at a back-pedalling Pools defence to splitting open the home backline with a threaded throughball, there is a hint of offside as Shola Ameobi runs onto the pass and rounds keeper Budtz before slotting into the empty net.

49min - HARTLEPOOL GOAL (1-0) Matty Robson's sliced shot from 20 yards finds its way to James Brown unmarked on the right side of the area, the sub chests the ball in front of him and volleys across Harper's goal and in off the far post to give the hosts the lead.

46min - Owen almost scores in his first involvement as Nobby lofts a ball in behind the Pools backline, the Toon striker takes a touch and tries to lift the ball over the on-rushing Jan Budtz but the sub keeper palms clear - it was a great opprortunity.

The Geordies get the second period started on what is still a balmy night by the sea at Victoria Park. Michael Owen, Shola Ameobi, James Troisi, Nobby Solano and Steve Harper are all half-time introductions with Shay Given, Oba Martins, Andy Carroll, Nicky Butt and David Rozehnal making way.

For Pools Robbie Elliott has replaced Ritchie Humphreys, Jan Budtz is on for Arran Lee-Barrett, James Brown on for Ali Gibb, Ian Moore for Joel Porter and Richard Barker for Michael Mackay.

FIRST HALF ACTION

It's half-time at Victoria Park with the score still goalless, the visitors having enjoyed the better of the first-half openings.

38min - The Magpies are really in control and Joey Barton has the best chance of the match so far and the perfect opportunity to open his United account. Andy Carroll fires goalwards from 20 yards and it's a stinging effort which Lee-Barrett can only palm into the path of Barton, but the Toon No.7 elects to head rather than shoot and the Pools keeper recovers to save when Barton really should've scored from just 10 yards out.

35min - Martins has a great chance to make amends as N'Zogbia plays him in one-on-one with Lee-Barrett, the Nigerian tries to chip the on-rushing keeper but he manages to get a hand on the goalbound effort and deflect it behind for a corner. Barton's flag-kick is cleared by Pools at the near post.

34min - Butt plays in Oba Martins with a lofted chip in behind the Pools backline, it looks as if the Nigerian is going to lash goalwards but he instead takes a touch and squares for Dyer, but the midfielder doesn't gamble and the ball flashes across the Hartlepool goal and away to safety.

32min - Michael Mackay spins under the challenge of Ramage 30 yards from goal and fires left-footed first time but it's another Pools effort which ends up amongst the Toon Army behind the goal.

28min - N'Zogbia wins possession 30 yards from goal and threads a ball through for Dyer, it looks as if the midfielder has stole a march on Gary Liddle but the centre-back manages to recover and poke behind for a corner. Barton's in-swinger is met by Rozehnal at the near post but he is unable to guide his header goalwards and the ball flies harmlessly wide.

26min - Martins works an angle on the edge of the area but his low drive lacks real power and Lee-Barrett gathers low to his left.

24min - Stephen Carr mis-cues his clearance from the right-back position and Ali Gibb gathers the loose ball 30 yards from goal, it's one touch out of his feet and a stinging effort towards Shay Given's goal, but the ball is always drifting wide and the Magpies survive.

21min - Joel Porter swings a hopeful left-foot effort from 25 yards but it's always rising and clears the stand behind the goal.

16min - And Carroll goes close again just moments later, this time it's Dyer who tees up the young striker but his side-footed effort from 12 yards out is saved by Lee-Barrett.

15min - Andy Carroll has a glorious chance to open the scoring when Dyer springs Carr free on the right, his delicate chip finds the 18-year-old striker unmarked at the far post and he heads back across goal aiming for the far corner, keeper Lee-Barrett denies Carroll his goal with a fisted clearance from the goal-line and Martins is unable to return the loose ball goalwards and Pools clear. 

12min - Dyer breaks free in the area after out-foxing full-back Robson with a clever stepover and quick turn, his pull-back for Carroll doesn't have enough on it and Liddle manages to scramble the ball clear from inside the six-yard box.

10min - Martins cushions a header down for strike partner Andy Carroll and immediately sets off looking for the return pass, Carroll holds onto the ball a fraction too long before releasing the Nigerian and he is flagged offside.

7min - McCunnie forces a corner off the back-tracking Charles N'Zogbia and Humphrey's delivery is headed behind by Big Andy Carroll. The second flag-kick causes confusion inside United's area but it's Huntington who eventually hacks clear.

6min - Dyer and Barton combine in the right but the new midfielder's cross lacks direction and Lee-Barrett claims easily at the far post.

4min - Oba Martins' loose pass is seized upon by Antony Sweeney midway inside his own half and he charges 40 yards with the ball before letting fly towards Shay Given's goal, it's never troubling the Unted skipper and he plucks the ball from the air in what was the game's first effort on target.

Pools get the game underway with the Magpies defending the goal in front of the stand where the strong away following is housed.

TEAM NEWS

JOEY Barton and David Rozehnal are both handed Newcastle United debuts as Sam Allardyce names his first starting eleven as Magpies manager.

Czech international Rozehnal partners Peter Ramage at the heart of United's defence, while £5.8m signing Barton lines up alongside Nicky Butt in the centre of midfield.

Shay Given will lead the Geordies out after celebrating ten years at the club this week.

Teenage striker Andy Carroll is paired with last season's top scorer Oba Martins in attack, with Kieron Dyer and Charles N'Zogbia on the flanks.

Completing the line-up are full-backs Stephen Carr and Paul Huntington.

TEAMS

HUFC: Arran Lee-Barrett (Jan Budtz, 46m), Jamie McCunnie, Matty Robson (Andy Monkhouse, 63m), Gary Liddle (Stephen Turnbull, 84m), Ben Clark, Godwin Antwi, Ali Gibb (James Brown 46m), Antony Sweeney (Lee Bullock, 68m), Joel Porter (Ian Moore, 46m), Michael Mackay (Richard Barker, 46m), Ritchie Humphreys (Robbie Elliott, 46m)
Subs not used: David Foley, Micky Barron

NUFC: Shay Given (Steve Harper, 46m), Stephen Carr (Darren Lough, 74m), Paul Huntington, Peter Ramage (Alex Francis, 88m), David Rozehnal (Nobby Solano, 46m), Nicky Butt (James Troisi, 46m), Joey Barton (Kazenga LuaLua 75m), Kieron Dyer (Matty Pattison, 64m), Charles N'Zogbia (Mark Bertram 75m), Andy Carroll (Shola Ameobi, 46m), Oba Martins (Michael Owen, 46m)

Referee: C Oliver
Attendance: 6, 030