A youthful City second string were no match for an experienced Newcastle outfit in today's Premier League Reserve clash in the north-east.

Korey Smith captained a visiting side that included four first year scholars against Peter Beardsley's Magpies who featured the likes of Steve Harper, Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie and recent Inter Milan recruit Davide Santon. Former Evertonian Gosling notched a brace with efforts from Greg McDermott, Michael Richardson, Ryan Donaldson and Yven Moyo earning the hosts all three points in their home reserve league opener. City had trailed 4-0 at the interval but academy chief Ricky Martin was delighted with his team's response before the Geordies struck two further late goals.

'It was a very difficult experience against the side that Newcastle fielded, but one that the lads will certainly look to use to help them in the future,' he said. 'The conditions today were really bad, the wind was so strong. When we turned around at half-time we could really feel it, though we kept the ball much better in the second-half, which was pleasing.

'We did so well in the second-half that we could easily have held them to a 4-0, but unfortunately we conceded two sloppy goals late on. We had four first years playing out there who did well considering the conditions and opposition, and that's a great example to be setting.'

Martin admitted City struggled to test a defence marshalled by experienced keeper Harper.

'Some of the players they were up against were proper Premier League players, but we created chances. Steve Harper pulled off a good save from a Jacob Murphy shot just before half-time,' he told Norwich's official site. 'It was really hard with their back four, they're solid. It would have taken a special moment to break through that defence, and we found ourselves having to shoot from distance some of the time.

'It was tough to deal with the players they had not just from a football level, but also from a physical side. They were much more physical than us, but I can take positives from the way we played today.'

Newcastle chief Beardsley praised his players' attitude.

'Norwich obviously had some young lads who were very keen, but when you look at our game against Wolves a fortnight ago it was role reversal - we had a young side and they had a few first teamers,' said Beardsley. 'Sometimes that can work against you though, and the last thing I said to them before the game that it was all about attitude. The good thing was that their attitude was spot on. In the end it was comfortable.'

Gosling was the pick of the Newcastle line up as he continued his return from long term injury.

'That will do Dan Gosling a lot of good and give him a lot of confidence,' said Beardsley. 'We have to be realistic and realise that the kid has been out for around 14 months. He's worked hard to get back, he did well in America in pre-season and when you come back from injury your initial burst is always exciting and positive. There is then always a lull, which is normal for a long injury, but hopefully he will come again.'

• Newcastle: Harper, Kadar, Santon (Folan 70), Dummett, Perch (Edmundsson 73), Richardson, McDermott, Guthrie (Moyo 46), Ferguson, Gosling, Donaldson. Subs (not used): Soderberg, Taylor.

• Booked: Perch

• Goals: Gosling (10, 39), McDermott (13), Richardson (21), Donaldson (80), Moyo (90).

• Norwich City: Matthews, Brindley (Florence 46), McKenzie (Barker 46), Francomb, Toffolo, Smith (McGeehan 64), Kelly, Dawkin, Ball, Josh Murphy, Jacob Murphy. Subs (not used): Hall-Johnson, Drmola.