Leeds Reserves 2 Newcastle Reserves 2

Last updated : 14 January 2006 By Kevin Markey

The Whites scored two fine first half goals through Jermaine Wright and Ben Parker but poor defending saw them twice concede goals to the Magpies.

Lee Clark and Michael Chopra featured for Newcastle whilst Leeds had a mix of experience and youth.

Carl Finnigan put the ball just wide from a Chopra cross on 13 minutes, but it was the Whites who took the lead on 16 minutes when Jermaine Wright blasted the ball in after Tony Caig's punched clearance fell nicely for him.

Finnigan then saw a close range header from Martin Brittain's cross blocked by Rui Marques inside the six yard box, then Chopra had an effort ruled out for offside moments later.

Newcastle equalised when Chopra received a through ball from Finnigan before putting the ball past Ben Smith, the keeper who was ironically released by the Magpies earlier in the season.

But Leeds regained the lead five minutes later when Parker found the bottom corner after a pass from Simon Walton, but Newcastle got back into the game on 34 minutes when full back Simon Madden turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Chopra after Finnigan played the ball across goal.

An entertaining first period ended with the teams all square, though the second half took time to get going with most of the play confined to the middle of the park in a scrappy start to the 2nd half.

Chopra and Brittain both saw half chances go begging, then Caig made a save from Leeds' first strike on target in the second half to deny Nick Gray.

After a see-saw second half, Chopra created a chance for Kris Gate, but he could only turn the ball onto the bar with four minutes left, meaning the game finished level.

Leeds: Smith, Madden (McKeown 75), Marques, Hird, Crainey, Gray, Walton, Wright, Pugh, Parker, Howson (Ameobi 85).
Subs Unused: Camfield, Wilberforce, Serrant.