MIDDLESBROUGH RES 1
NEWCASTLE UNITED RES 1
Friendly
Rockliffe Training Ground, Hurworth
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Craig Hope reports from Hurworth ...

KAZENGA LuaLua was on target for Newcastle United Reserves as they came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Trailing to Nathan Porritt's first-half effort, The Magpies drew level two minutes after the interval; Ben Tozer spotting the forward burst of Ryan Donaldson whose enticing centre was turned home by the diving head of a brave LuaLua.

The visitors had started the game sluggishly and had a courageous Matthew Grieve to thank for his goalmouth block to deny Jonathan Grounds on 12 minutes.

LuaLua then went close at the other end but his 20-yard daisy-cutter was kept out by Danny Coyne.

United lost top scorer Wesley Ngo Baheng midway through the opening period when the Frenchman pulled up sharply with a hamstring problem.

That injury came amid Newcastle's best spell but it was the hosts, in front of new first-team boss Gordan Strachan, who found the breakthrough not long after the half-hour mark.

Wideman Porritt, a box of tricks all afternoon for Boro, found time inside the area before dropping a measured shot above a helpless Alnwick and into the far corner.

LuaLua cancelled out that effort on 47 minutes before returning the favour for his supplier Donaldson with a slick throughball to spring his team-mate clear with 15 minutes remaining.

Donaldson had just Coyne to beat but was thwarted in his quest for a winner as the home stopper stood strong to repel the skipper's well-struck shot.

Frank Danquah was also denied by Coyne in the closing stages and, in the end, a draw proved a fair reflection of what had been a well-fought affair.

NUFC: Jak Alnwick, Callum Morris (Dan Leadbitter 72), Matthew Grieve (James Taylor 72), Ben Tozer, Shane Ferguson (Stephen Folan 72), Samuel Adjei, Ryan Donaldson (c), Patrick McLaughlin (Greg McDermott 72), Frank Danquah, Wesley Ngo Baheng (Brad Inman 27), Kazenga LuaLua