Tuesday 8 September 2009
totesport.com League East
Newcastle United 1 (Ngo-Baheng 59)
Bradford City 0
Kick Off: 7.00pm
at St. James' Park

Bradford City Reserves fell to their second consecutive single goal defeat of the new totesport.com League East season, losing at the hands of Newcastle United.

Two weeks after losing their opening home fixture of the campaign to a solitary Lincoln City goal, history repeated itself for City as they went down to a Wesley Ngo-Baheng strike.

Defeat was tough on the young Bantams side, who competed fiercely against the Magpies and created several promising chances throughout the match.

Despite the loss, many of City's line up will have benefited from the experience of playing in such grand surroundings as St James' Park.

None more so than young midfielder Alex Flett. The 1st year apprentice was making his reserve level debut at Gallowgate after being named in the Bantams starting eleven.

City's line up for their clash with the Magpies also included space for two other fresh faces.

Pacy winger Clive Moyo-Modise and athletic forward Tomi Ameobi were named in the Bantams starting eleven after recently joining the club on trial.

The two combined as early as the fourth minute for the Bantams.

Tomi Ameobi played a delightful defence-splitting pass to feed Moyo-Modise into space. The winger had time to do better, but could only drag his shot wide.

Moments later, Leon Osborne tried to create an opportunity for Ameobi with a teasing near post cross, but the big striker's effort was blocked by Magpies defender Greg McDermott.

City maintained their strong start to the fixture as a piercing through ball by youngster Flett saw Moyo-Modise in space on the right flank. Moyo-Modise's cross managed to pick out Rory Boulding, whose shot was held at the second attempt by Ole Soderberg in the Newcastle goal.

Soderberg had be alert, moments later, to race out of his net and prevent Ameobi as City continued to be undaunted by their grand surroundings.

Midway through the first period, a superb passing move involving Flett, Osborne and Sharry resulted in Osborne being presented with a shooting chance. The Bantams winger's fierce effort was stuck sweetly, but parried away by Soderberg for a corner.

From the resulting corner, City defender Phil Cutler saw a powerful header clawed out of the sky by Soderberg.

Despite the positive nature of the visitors play, Newcastle saw plenty of the ball in the match's opening exchanges. The Magpies were unable to do much with it, however, after being marshalled well by a compact Bantams defence.

The home side created their first real effort in anger on McLaughlin's goal on the half hour mark.

A pacy run from Kazenga Lua Lua gave him enough space away from Jonathan Bateson to send over a dangerous looking cross. The centre picked out strike partner Ngo-Baheng, who's cross range header was well kept out by the Bantams stopper.

Lua Lua went for goal himself in the Magpies next attack, luckily for the Bantams, his fierce drive from the edge of the area whistled just over.

On the stroke of half time, Ngo-Baheng somehow managed to escape a booking from referee Tony Harrington, this following a comical dive from the United striker after he had felt Matthew Clarke's arm on his shoulder.

Both sides started the second period unchanged in the near empty St James' Park.

The Bantams started the half competitively as Ameobi and Rory Boulding forced Soderberg into two smart saves.

Newcastle responded shortly after through Frank Waife-Danquah.

The Magpies winger's impressive drive from the edge of the area brought out an equally impressive save from McLaughlin.

Unfortunately for the Bantams, Newcastle went one better, breaking the deadlock on the hour mark.

After some neat build up play from full back James Tavernier, a smart turn from Ngo-Baheng gave the United striker enough space inside the Bantams penalty area to slot past McLaughlin and edge his side ahead.

The goal seemed to be the perfect tonic for Newcastle, as the home side tried to press home their advantage.

McLaughlin had to be alert to beat Ngo-Baheng to a bouncing ball and then equally aware moments later to keep out a Lua Lua effort.

Smart interplay by the Magpies nearly saw Tavernier in the clear, fortunately for City, McLaughlin was quick off the mark to smother the danger.

McLaughlin was then forced into saves from substitute Phil Airey and Ngo-Baheng in quick succession as the home side grew in confidence.

The Bantams nearly forced themselves back in the fixture in the 75th minute.

A superbly penetrating pass by Louis Horne allowed Rory Boulding the time and space to strike a rising drive that was well tipped over by Soderberg.

In the 80th minute, Tomi Ameobi was joined on the field by his younger brother Sammy as the young Toon striker replaced goalscorer Ngo-Baheng.

With time running out, Tomi Ameobi almost got his side back into the match.

A through pass from Flett appeared to have too much legs for Horne, until the energetic full back rescued the situation with a crunching tackle on Magpies defender Tavarnier.

Horne proceeded to pick out Ameobi with a low, near post cross, but the giant striker could only steer his effort agonisingly wide.

As the match approached injury time, Flett was replaced by fellow first year apprentice Ben Green. Flett had put in good account of himself during the match, but understandably tired towards the end.

In the three injury time minutes that followed, City's second string couldn't force a way back into the match and ultimately fell to their second defeat of the season.

NEWCASTLE UNITED	BRADFORD CITY
1 Ole Soderberg	1 Jon McLaughlin
2 James Tavernier	2 Jonathan Bateson
3 Paul Dummett	3 Louis Horne
4 Greg McDermott	4 Luke Sharry
5 Ben Tozer	5 Phil Cutler
6 Darren Lough	6 Matthew Clarke
7 Samuel Adjei	7 Clive Moyo-Modise
8 Patrick McLaughlin	8 Alex Flett
9 Wesley Ngo-Baheng	9 Rory Boulding
10 Kezenga Lua Lua	10 Tomi Ameobi
11 Frank Waife Danquah	11 Leon Osborne
Substitutes:	Substitutes:
12 Phil Airey for 7 (54)	12 Ryan Harrison for 11 (69)
14 Sammy Ameobi for 9 (80)	13 Matthew Convey
15 Stephen Folan	14 Nathan Clarke for 7 (76)
16 Conor Newton for 4 (73)	15 Ben Hudson
17 Michael McCrudden	16 Ben Green for 8 (90)

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee	T Harrington
Assistant Referee	E D Martin
Assistant Referee	N J Sharp
4th Official	M Pearson

GOALSCORERS
NEWCASTLE UNITED	BRADFORD CITY
Ngo-Baheng (59)