By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Newcastle United Under-17s 4
County Fermanagh Under-17s 0

Newcastle got their Milk Cup campaign underway on Saturday evening with a 4-0 win over local side County Fermanagh, with Alex Gilliead, Adam Campbell and Greg Olley (2) on target.

The Magpies were competing in the tournament for the first time since a penalty shoot-out defeat to the same opponents in 2005, but the youngsters from Northern Ireland never looked like getting the better of United on this occasion.

Dave Watson's side led 1-0 at the break in Ballinamallard through Durham-born midfielder Olley, before England under-16 international Gilliead made it two after the restart.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the Magpies, with goalkeeper Freddie Woodman more than earning his clean sheet at the other end, but Olley's second made the game safe.

And when Campbell got the fourth in his first appearance of the summer, it became a comprehensive victory and a flying start to the Premier section for United in what is the competition's 30th year. 

The result was made all the more impressive coming as it did on the same day that County Tyrone beat Manchester United 2-0 elsewhere in the tournament, while County Armagh and County Antrim held Tottenham and Benfica respectively to draws.

Mexican side Pachuca are next up for Newcastle in Ballymena on Monday evening.

Photograph courtesy of Russell Pritchard - www.russellpritchardblog.com