Magpies run riot in 7-2 win over Darlington FC

Sporting a strong line-up against League Two side Darlington FC at the Northern Echo Arena, Newcastle United came away 7-2 winners in a match that was never going to be competitive.

United got off to a good start when just three minutes in, Damien Duff converted a Ryan Taylor assist to make it 1-0, but only for three minutes as Dean Windass leveled scores from the penalty spot after Tamas Kadar brought down Mark Convery.

Kevin Nolan made it 2-1 in the 17th minute, and two goals from Shola Ameobi took the score to 4-1 and beyond the reach of the Quakers.

In the second half, Jonas Gutierrez scored his first goal for the Magpies with a fine finish, before Steven Taylor made it 6-1.

Dean Windass got one back for the hosts, but Andy Carroll's conversion of a Jose Enrique cross ended the match at 7-2.

League Two side Darlington played some commendable football against the relegated Magpies, but the quality showed in the end.

Two divisions make a world of difference. The Coca Cola Championship side won against the League Two boys by a large margin, but it will not aid the turmoil at the club which still spins uncontrollably out of the reach of the fans, and even to some extent the current regime.

TEAMS

Darlington FC: Tom Woodhead, Paul Arnison, Joe Lamplough, Matty Plummer, Gary Smith, Mark Convery, Chris Lumsdon (c), Josh Gray, Dean Windass, Jeff Smith

Subs: Ben Startosa, David Knight, Ian Miller, James Bennet, Dan Riley, Dan Groves, Nick Liversedge, Craig James, Mark Doninger

Newcastle United FC: Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Habib Beye, Steven Taylor, Tamas Kadar, Alan Smith (c), Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Damien Duff, Kazenga LuaLua, Shola Ameobi

Subs: Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Xisco, Nicky Butt, Fraser Forster, Andy Carroll, Ryan Donaldson

Attendance: 6,698

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