PONTELAND United’s youngsters made a big impression in their nine-goal encounter at FC United of Newcastle.

For the second match in a row the average age of United’s starting eleven was below 20, as they went down 6-3 in the Northern Alliance Premier Division clash.

Sixteen year old Louis Calvert retained his place up front and there was a return for Connor Rainey, who missed last week’s draw at North Shields Athletic to play against his former team.

United had a dream start when captain Reece Havelock-Brown drove forward to create a shooting opportunity and drilled the ball past keeper Kieran Green after only six minutes.

Two minutes later, Pont scored again when Hadfield collected a throw inside the penalty area, and beat two men, before pulling the ball back to another former FC United player, Tommy-Lee Bainbridge, who calmly picked his spot.

Pont were well on top but the hosts pulled one back on 12 minutes when David Short turned into trouble and was robbed just outside of the area. FC United took full advantage with a good finish from Steven Matthew. The same player scored again on 25 minutes when Pont failed to clear in a crowded penalty area to level the scores.

The visitors should have regained the lead shortly afterwards when a corner from Rawlinson found Hadfield in front of goal but his controlled volley lacked sufficient power to beat Green.

However, they did score a timely goal one minute before half time. Hadfield made a good challenge to win the ball before slipping it across to Calvert who turned and shot into the net.

Despite their slender lead, Pont manager Liam McIvor was clearly dissatisfied with his team’s first half performance, with his side giving the opposition too much space. He made three changes at the interval, bringing on Hibbitt, Froggatt and Richmond.

The changes made no difference and FC United were level again on 50 minutes when Gary Winter picked up a loose ball just inside Pont’s half and ran strongly unchallenged towards the penalty area before cleverly clipping a lob over the keeper from 25 yards.

The spirit and determination was clearly with the home team and they took the lead for the first time in the match when they were given too much time on the right to float a ball into the area, where the tall Anthony Brown stood his ground unchallenged and headed the ball into the bottom corner.

Despite the turnaround, Ponteland still had good chances to draw level. Froggatt couldn’t quite head Bainbridge’s excellent cross.

Then Bainbridge was put through one on one with the keeper by Gellately, but his lob the cleared the crossbar.

Pont brought on the experienced Steven Satterthwaite into the fray in the closing stages, but further goals were conceded.

A poor defensive decision handed the ball to McEvoy who had all the confidence in the world to walk the ball into the net on 85 minutes and in the last minute struck a freekick left footed from the right with the ball evading everyone in a crowded goal area to nestle inside the far post.