Albion exit FA Youth Cup

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

MU18s beaten 2-1 at Newcastle United on Monday.

Matt Bishop

2024-12-09T21:15+00:00

Our MU18s fought back against Newcastle but went down 2-1 in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. 📷 by Harriet Massey / NUFC

Albion’s men’s under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup at the third round stage after a narrow defeat to Newcastle.

Harry Howell’s penalty proved not enough as the Magpies beat Inigo Calderon’s side 2-1 with goals from Joe Brayson and Michael Mills securing the hosts victory on a freezing night at Whitley Park.

Newcastle were the better side during the first half and had two chances to take the lead inside the opening five minutes, but Trevan Sanusi flicked a near post header wide before firing a low effort past the post.

But the Magpies did open the scoring four minutes later when Anthony Munda burst forwards down the right, beat Freddie Simmonds and put it on a plate for Joe Brayson to open the scoring from eight yards.

Albion responded well to going behind, with Howell looking dangerous and Joe Belmont going close with an audacious attempt from the halfway line, before Aidan West surged into the area and dragged a shot wide after 25 minutes.

Just as it looked like Calderon’s team would get the next goal Newcastle were denied a certain second by Alfie Mansell who pulled off a stunning point-blank save to deny Mills after his blistering pace saw him fly past Matthew Hayden.

The Magpies then thought Rory Finneran had doubled their lead, but the midfielder’s towering header from Munda’s corner looped across goal and onto the crossbar, before Brayson lofted a shot from distance wide in the 35th minute.

Theo Outen battles for possession. 📷 by Harriet Massey / NUFC

At this point, Albion’s goal was living a charmed life and the hosts weren’t to be denied their second goal for much longer. Mills was the scorer, showing his searing pace once more to go one v one with Mansell before calmly slotting his finish into the bottom corner.

Like they had following Newcastle’s opener, Calderon’s team showed good resilience after going two behind and, when West did well to win a corner, Callum Mackley was fouled from the resulting set-piece and Howell calmy halved the deficit from the penalty spot moments before the break.

Buoyed by their goal, Albion flew out of the blocks in the second half with Shane Nti and Nehemiah Oriola looking threatening but the former shot straight at Aidan Harris when well placed and the latter blazed high and wide from 15 yards.

Oriola had another chance on the hour mark after Jacob Vickers found him with a fantastic through ball, but Harris beat his shot away and Belmont’s effort on the rebound was straight at the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Howell could have had his second and Albion’s second moments later after Darius Lane won the ball deep in Newcastle’s half and found the 16-year-old, but Harris made another good low save.

It was all Albion at this point but 20 minutes before full time, Newcastle broke well and Sean Neave showed quick feet to evade a last-ditch challenge from Freddie Simmonds before shooting from 18 yards, but Mansell sprung to his left to save well.

Freddie Simmonds went close late on to equalising. 📷 by Harriet Massey / NUFC

Neave’s breakaway was a moment of respite for the home defence, but Albion were soon on the attack again and Vickers headed a glorious opening over after Howell whipped a corner towards the near post.

With ten minutes to go, West forced another set piece and this time Howell’s pinpoint cross was met in the six-yard by Simmonds, but the centre-back’s header was hacked clear.

Albion kept pushing and Howell had another shot saved in stoppage time but Calderon’s side couldn’t quite find the equaliser their second-half performance deserved.