BOHEMIANS 0 NEWCASTLE 6
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Ryan Graydon (Cian Flynn 45), Ian Morris, Dylan Hayes (Roberto Lopes 45), James Kavanagh (Kurtis Byrne 45); Jason Caffrey, Keith Buckley (Dylan O’Connor 73), Dave Mulcahy, Marco Chindea (Ayman Ben Mohamed 60); Mark Quigley (Jake Kelly 62), Ismahil Akinade.
Subs not used: Dan Mann (gk); Jamie Hollywood, Scott Lawless.
Bookings: None.
Newcastle United: Matz Sels; Vurnon Anita, Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Jamie Sterry; Rolando Aarons, Jack Colback, Yoan Gouffran, Matt Ritchie, Henri Saivet, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Subs: Karl Darlow (gk); Jesus Gamez, Paul Dummett, Georginho Wijnaldum, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Ayoze Perez, Dwight Gayle, Daryl Janmaat, Cheick Tiote, Florian Thauvin, Karl Darlow.
Bookings: Matt Ritchie (27), Yoan Gouffran (45).
Attendance: 5,500 (est).
Newcastle United got the perfect start to their pre-season preparations with a defining 6-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park. New signing Matt Ritchie was undoubtedly the star and got Rafael Benitez’s men underway with a devastating curling goal before Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dwight Gayle, Florian Thauvin, Rolando Aarons and Georginio Wijnaldum got a piece of the action to secure the win for the Toon.
Bohemians were looking to put a dizzying 3-1 Dublin Derby loss to rivals Shamrock Rovers behind them last night as goals from Dean Clarke, Gary Shaw and a wonder goal from 18-year-old Sean Boyd crushed a six game unbeaten streak from the Gypsies.
This time around it was 26-year-old Matt Ritchie who sent those in red and black packing. Ritchie recently rejected a new contract at Bournemouth, instead opting for a £12 million move to relegated Newcastle last week. The player showed his worth from the first whistle in Phibsboro, teasing the Bohemians defence with an array of tricks, twists and flicks only adding to good vision and an eye for goal.
Bohemians started promisingly and, attempting to bring the game to Rafael Benitez’s men through a tight, physical encounter, were subjected to the skill and precision of a side who were recently relegated to the Championship following an 18th place finish in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign.
Benitez stands a stiff test to steer the Toon Army back to where its supporters, hundreds of whom made the weekend trip to Dublin, feel they belong in the top tier of English football. But it was Ritchie who steered the former Liverpool, Internationalize and this time last year, Real Madrid manager, into the lead after 15 minutes.
The midfielder latched onto a low ball in from the right wing following a devastating through ball from defence via Chancel Mbemba. Ritchie composed himself on the ball just in time to curl it directly into the top left corner of Shane Supple’s goal from his left boot.
It was 2-0 after Supple brought down Aleksander Mitrovic inside the area and the Serbian striker slotted the ball home.
The floodgates truly opened after the break in a second half which saw four goals fly in for the visitors following a re-arranged team where manager Benitez introduced Dwight Gayle, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez and Jonjo Shelvey.
It was 3-0 after Gayle contorted his body in order to hook the ball off the underside of the crossbar and back down into the back of the net following a poorly cleared corner.
The scoreboard read four after Thavin was fed the ball by Rolando Aarons following more instrumental play from Gayle, Thauvin slotting the ball home following a low cross.
Aarons turned goalscorer soon after with more space opening up in the heart of an imploding Bohs’ defence before the Jamaican-born winger ran through unchallenged before planting the ball wonderfully past Supple.
Keith Buckley had barely left the pitch following his substitution before another goal had hit the back of the net. This time goal number six had Georginio Wijnaldum’s name all over it. Like previous and perhaps seemingly more to come, space opened up in the centre of Bohs' defence and this time it was Wijnaldum who took his turn to rocket the ball into the top of the goal.
Benitez may at times have felt a long way from the godly surroundings of the Santiago Bernabeu in his native Madrid, but could not felt more welcome at the home of Irish football as fans rang his name around the dilapidated walls of Dalymount Park to the sound of a 6-0 victory as another dawn beckons for Rafa at St. James’ Park.
Man of the Match: Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United).