Enlarge imageLONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United needed second-half goals from Lee Bowyer and Shola Ameobi to end minor league Yeading’s fairytale FA Cup run with a 2-0 victory in the third round on Sunday.
Despite being the biggest mis-match in FA Cup history, with six divisions separating Newcastle players earning up to 50,000 pounds a week from part-timers paid about 50 pounds a game, Yeading bowed out of the competition with heads held high.
The Ryman Premier Division leaders held out at Loftus Road until the 51st minute, when midfielder Bowyer tapped in a simple goal and their fate was sealed by an Ameobi header 10 minutes later.
New defensive signings Jean-Alain Boumsong and Celestine Babayaro made their debuts for Newcastle boss Graeme Souness, who was taking few chances by fielding a strong line-up in the absence of injured skipper Alan Shearer.
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Yeading showed plenty of industry and put together some nice moves as they frustrated the six-times FA Cup winners, who are having a lean spell in the Premier League.
But the underdogs also rode their luck in the opening 45 minutes as Bowyer steered Ameobi’s cross just wide from point-blank range and Wales striker Craig Bellamy hit the bar.
Yeading’s best chance followed in the 23rd minute when David Clarke smacked in a free kick which Newcastle keeper Steve Harper did well to turn round for a corner.
Frenchman Laurent Robert sent a free kick over the bar at the other end and Ameobi had two more chances just before the break as Yeading continued to defy all the odds.
They lasted until six minutes after the break when Bellamy put in a low cross from the right which beat keeper Delroy Preddie and Bowyer side-footed into an empty net.
Newcastle, who had failed to beat non-league opposition on four previous occasions in the FA Cup, were assured there would be no fifth upset when Ameobi made it 2-0.
Substitute Darren Ambrose curled over a free kick and Ameobi beat his marker to send a pin-point header into the corner of Yeading’s net.
The semi-professionals began to tire in the closing stages, but Newcastle failed to take advantage and Yeading nearly grabbed a late consolation goal when Darti Brown’s superb 25-metre drive was turned round the post by Harper.
