This afternoon, Newcastle United took on local team, Gateshead in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Newcastle’s Benton training ground.
A few eager fans went along to the training ground to see if they could get a look at the friendly through the bushes which skirt the outside of the ground as Newcastle coasted to a 5-1 win.
Matt Ritchie, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron (2) got themselves on the scoresheet as the Mags got off to a flying start in pre-season.
Newcastle United vs Gateshead matchday at the training ground #NUFC pic.twitter.com/SZue72FHoJ
— Adam Pearson (YT) ⚫️⚪️ (@AdamP1242) July 9, 2022
Only Kell Watts played the entire 90 minutes with Eddie Howe opting to field two different teams each half, although the likes of Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood, Fabian Schar and Nick Pope all watched on from the sidelines having been granted extended rest after representing their respective countries last month.
Newcastle loanee, Dan Langley was between the sticks for Heed and was finally beaten on 34 minutes after Elliot Anderson laid the ball off for Matt Ritchie to bag the first goal of the game.
It only took two minutes into the second half for the Mags to double their lead when Sean Longstaff was brought down in the box leaving Joelinton to convert from the spot.
Gateshead pulled one back through Blackett as he rounded Karl Darlow for a simple finish.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Emil Krafth played a ball down the right hand side for Miguel Almiron to latch on to as he out-paced the Heed defence and slotted in a tidy finish. A few minutes later, Almiron had the ball in the back of the net again with a near carbon copy finish.
Sean Longstaff popped up in the final minute to round off the afternoon with Newcastle’s fifth after some great work by last term’s player of the season, Joelinton.
Check out match highlights here
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