Chopra bags a hattrick

By Matthew Jones
October 15 2002

Chopra bags a hattrick for Newcastle reserves. A game drawn 3-3. Newcastle included five players with Premiership experience in their team, including Stephen Caldwell, who spent time on loan at Valley Parade last season.

Young striker Michael Chopra netted a hat-trick on Monday as the Newcastle reserve squad drew 3-3 with their Bradford counterparts in Gateshead. Danny Forrest, Paul Reid and Michael Standing scored for the Bradford side as they came from 2-0 and 3-2 down after Chopra's first-half treble.

The 18-year-old opened the scoring with 19 minutes on the clock, a cheeky dummy from a throw-in confused the defence and Chopra ran into the box and finished a Carl Cort assist.

He scored a second five minutes later, after a one-two with Jamie McClen, then Bradford pulled two back before he completed his hat-trick, strolling the ball over the line for his easiest of the night.

Newcastle included five players with Premiership experience in their team, including Stephen Caldwell, who spent time on loan at Valley Parade last season.

Newcastle (reserves): Collin, Brennan, Bernard, Taylor, S Caldwell, Elliott, McClen (Robson 88), Orr, Cort (Kendrick 84), Chopra and Ferrell.