Hartlepool United 1 - 1 Newcastle United Reserves

By Scotch Egg - talkofthetyne.com
July 30 2002

I know it was officially a reserve team, but I'm never too happy to see such high profile players playing matches against lower league teams like this in meaningless friendlies. I remember Mark Robinson's career going down the "Swanney" after a horror tackle at this place in the Keegan era.

The only reason this was written by somebody else, is because it was taken off the Newcastle Rivals site. I was unable to go to this game, but others reports will be my own. So, in the words of Scotch Egg, here is the report.

I know it was officially a reserve team, but I'm never too happy to see such high profile players playing matches against lower league teams like this in meaningless friendlies. I remember Mark Robinson's career going down the "Swanney" after a horror tackle at this place in the Keegan era.

Newcastle United Res: Karelse, Cort, Griffin, Marcelino (Dunn 77), Bramble (S Caldwell 46), Elliott, Kerr (Orr 60), Bassedas, Acuna, Kendrick, Zola.

I remember Keegan saying after that Hartlepool match, "I will never bring another Newcastle United side here again!"

Obviously Sir Bob doesn't hold grudges.

The majority of the crowd of 3,334 hoped to see a strong Newcastle line-up, and Tommy Craig (or Sir Bob) put out full internationals Christian Bassedas, Marcelino, Clarence Acuna and Steve Caldwell. But all eyes were on summer signing Titus Bramble.

Having only made one substitute appearance on the Dutch tour, he is obviously still finding his feet after injury. So 45 minutes was all he was going to have here at the Victoria Ground.

He's very strong in tackle, quick off the mark, and difficult to turn. But he seems more of a central defender suited to the Continental game rather than the Premiership. He's not that tall, and certainly not as accomplished in the air as he is on the deck. A couple of times he lost out to smaller players when challenging for lofted balls, but he obviously needs time to settle into United's pattern of play.

Newcastle took the lead through Joe Kendricks on 40 minutes, one of only three players in the starting line-up who didn't fly to Holland for the tour.

But Hartlepool equalised two minutes later when Ritchie Humphreys headed past Karelse.

The Dutch goalkeeper pulled off three superb saves to keep United on level terms, but Carl Cort missed the sitter of the match on 71 minutes.

Once again, the only reason this was written by somebody else, is because it was taken off the Newcastle Rivals site. I was unable to go to this game, but others reports will be my own.