A slightly more experienced side than usual was pitched against a Newcastle side that included Lee Clark, Michael Chopra and Shola Ameobi.
Boro started brightly and two goals in the first twenty minutes from Danny Graham put Boro in the driving seat.
Newcastle pulled one back through Chopra but Boro restored their two goal cushion thanks to a goal from Graeme Owens just before the break.
Chopra reduced the arrears again early in the second half for the Geordies, but Boro once again restored their two goal cushion through Tom Craddock.
Ameobi got Newcastle's third in the dying minutes, but Boro hung on for a hard earned victory.
Boro team:
Knight, Liddle, Bates, Wheater, Grounds (Burgess), Owens (Walker), Morrison, Kennedy, Johnson, Craddock (Clough), Graham