A stunning first half striking display from Newcastle saw Town out of the Worthington Cup. Goals from Robert, Ameobi and two from Shearer, all before the break put the home side four-up. Darren Bent hit Town's goal late in the second half.

Town were missing all four of this morning's injury doubts. Out were Titus Bramble, Mark Venus, Martijn Reuser and Sixto Peralta, and in addition Marcus Bent was cup-tied. In were Fabian Wilnis, playing right back with Chris Makin moving to the left and Hermann Hreidarsson to the centre alongside John McGreal. Into the centre of midfield came Tommy Miller while up front Pablo Counago joined Alun Armstrong.

The game started evenly, Jermaine Wright had a header which went to keeper Steve Harper. In the 13th minute Wright tried to play in Tommy Miller after the ex-Hartlepool man had won a freekick. The ball just out-paced Miller and went out.

But the first of Newcastle's goals was just two minutes away. Matt Holland lost possession in the centre of the field and a pass was swiftly played into Laurent Robert's path on the left. The Frenchman made no mistake and put the ball past Sereni.

In the 16th minute Alun Armstrong almost got on the end of a Tommy Miller freekick at the far post. Shortly afterwards Armstrong was penalised for high kicking as Clapham put a ball in from the left.

On 20 Harper and one of his defenders (Town fans were once again so high up that it was difficult to see who was who) failed to deal with a ball into the box and Alun Armstrong almost got in. Fortunately for Newcastle the ball was put out for a corner.

The one goal lead was extended in the 23rd minute. Solano played the ball wide to Shearer who played the ball in first time and Ameobi stroked the ball home from five yards out with Wilnis in his wake.

Town were failing to control Newcastle's sharp movement and quick breaks while the home side's finishing was top class.

Four minutes later Distin had a shot cleared off the line by Holland as Town failed to get a corner away first time. Before Distin could have a second go the ball was finally cleared.

Just before the half hour Shearer came close to getting his head on a Solano cross from the right that had been flicked on by Speed. But the former England captain's first goal of the night wasn't long in coming. The move actually started with the referee getting in the way of a pass to Tommy Miller. The ball bounced to a Newcastle player and they once again broke quickly. The ball was played wide to Solano, who crossed the ball in for Shearer at the far post.

Newcastle's dream half was complete when Solano was slipped in down the right from a throw as Town defenders failed to pick him up. The Peruvian played the ball into the box and Shearer finished, again unchallenged.

Town's defending was as poor as Newcastle's finishing was good. The Blues themselves had failed to really create too much, with the final ball in again not up to standard.

On 38 Alun Armstrong received a yellow card as frustration got the better of him and he went in hard and late on keeper Harper.

With three minutes of the half left Town almost conceded another goal as Sereni and Wilnis failed to communicate and allowed Robert the ball on the left near the byline. Robert played the ball into the box but there was no Newcastle player there to play the ball into the empty net.

Half-time saw most Town fans talking about the failings of the defence and the midfield. There were also a number of comments suggesting we aren't all that upset we're out of the Worthington Cup. One fan said he was going to spend the entire second half drinking beer and watching the game on one of the TVs on the stand's concourse. Can't say I blamed him.

George Burley made changes and Richard Naylor and Thomas Gaardsoe came out for the second half while Pablo Counago and Tommy Miller remained in the dressing room. Town switch to 5-3-2 with Gaardsoe slipping into the centre of the three in the centre of the defence.

Newcastle largely took their feet off the pedal in the second half with the game was already won. Chances were rarer, while the strengthened Town defence held out. Town were, however, failing to keep possession when they won it and Newcastle continued to look more of a threat.

On the hour David Sheepshanks appeared amongst the Town supporters and received a rapturous reception and got the unsurprisingly quiet away following singing again.

Five minutes later Solano almost got the goal his first half perf

Photo: Action Images

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