Newcastle United reserves 3 Hartlepool United reserves 2

18 November 2009 09:59
Newcastle United reserves 3 Hartlepool United reserves 2[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED manager Chris Hughton will make a decision within the next couple of days whether to bring French winger Patrice Pancrate to the club after admitting he had been impressed by his performance in last night's reserve victory against Hartlepool United.[LNB] Trialist Pancrate helped set up Newcastle's opener, but it was homegrown striker Phil Airey who made the biggest impression at St James' Park with two well-taken goals.[LNB] Pancrate, who has the languid playing style of former Newcastle favourite Tino Asprilla, if not quite possessing the Columbian's brilliance on the ball, showed some impressive touches.[LNB] The 29-year-old tired after the hour mark but the game was a good test for the former Paris Saint Germain forward who was replaced by James Taylor ten minutes from the final whistle.[LNB] Hughton said: He did well.[LNB] We really wanted to see him in a game so we gave him the opportunity this evening. He will be training with us for the next few days and that will give us a chance to have a real good look at him.[LNB] We already have great quality on the right hand side with Ryan Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie but he could offer us something different with his pace.[LNB] His biggest asset is his experience.[LNB] He has played in a couple of positions, he's good on the ball and works hard.'' Pools reserve team boss Colin West fielded a strong line-up that included Ben Clark and Antony Sweeney.[LNB] The visitors dominated the first half hour and had two great chances to take an early lead. Armann Bjornsson blazed over from close range before Leon McSweeney, making his return from a foot injury, fired against the bar.[LNB] But Pools' pressure told when Matthew Grieve put through his own net on 25 minutes after he deflected Jonny Rowell's low centre.[LNB] Pancrate started the move that led to the equaliser, nodding to Airey who slid a superb ball for Peter Lovenkrands.[LNB] Lovenkrands was lively throughout, while for Pools McSweeney proved his fitness and will be pressing for a place at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.[LNB] His ball to Billy Greulich restored Pools' lead before Airey made a solo run from the half way line and finished calmly.[LNB] The striker flicked a header past Mark Cook from LuaLua's corner to earn victory.[LNB] NEWCASTLE: Alnwick; Leadbitter, Tozer, Donaldson, Folan; Pancrate (Taylor 80), Grieve, LuaLua, Danquah (Adjei, 61); Lovenkrands (Newton 80), Airey.[LNB] HARTLEPOOL: Cook; Power, Clark, Cherel, Fredriksen; Foley, Sweeney, Rowell, McSweeney; Greulich, Bjornsson (Mason 87).[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo