John Guidetti helped himself to a hat-trick as City’s Elite Development Squad overwhelmed table-toppers Newcastle with a sparkling Barclays Reserve League performance at Ewen Fields.

The home side entertained a 716 crowd throughout, and were not dispirited when Guidetti’s early opener was wiped out by Samuel Ameobi’s penalty for Peter Beardsley’s side.

City were rampant in a second half that saw Guidetti claim the match ball with Chris Chandler and Joan Roman completing the rout to leave City three points behind the leaders with three games in hand.

 Newcastle faced an FA Youth Cup tie just 24 hours later, so Beardsley was forced into naming a young side and 15-year-old goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell had a debut he will not forget in a hurry.

 With new Israel midfielder Gai Assulin on the bench, City quickly settled into their stride and an audacious shot from Tom Smith forced Mitchell into making a fingertip save.

Moments later the Blues broke the deadlock as Smith’s pinpoint through ball dropped perfectly for Guidetti, who showed great control to slot the ball home

The home side continued to threaten, with Andrea Mancini’s impressive free kick clipping the bar. But referee Russell Fletcher awarded Newcastle a penalty on 37 minutes for Ryan McGivern’s challenge on Michael Richardson. Samuel Ameobi, brother of Shola, calmly converted.

Unruffled City regained the lead after the break following the introduction of substitute Joan Angel Roman, whose trickery set up Guidetti for his second.

Roman grabbed one himself on 65 minutes after Guidetti’s shot was parried by Mitchell, and Guidetti  took his third from the spot after substitute Assulin was blocked by Conor Newton.

Chris Chantler increased Newcastle’s woe by making it five with minutes to go, tapping in McGivern’s cross. Bury will not be looking forward to next Thursday’s Manchester Senior Cup tie at Hyde.