U18s 4-1 Newcastle - lads shine against Magpies

Two goals in each half ensured a comfortable 4-1 win for our Under-18s against Newcastle United in the Premier Academy League on Saturday to give our youth team back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Having beaten Sunderland away last time out, we faced another team from the north-east at our new Training Centre and a solid performance was rewarded with a fine victory.

Goals from Kenny McEvoy and Roman Michael-Percil did the damage in the first half and after the Magpies pulled one back just after the interval, William Miller and Laste Dombaxe added to the scoreline in the second period.

There was little action of note at either end until McEvoy’s shot in the 18th minute brought a save out of Freddie Woodman in the Newcastle goal, but he couldn’t prevent the left winger opening the scoring a minute later.

Filip Lesniak won the ball in midfield and found Michael-Percil down the right flank, who beat his man, got to the byline and fired across goal where McEvoy was on hand to tap home.

Seven minutes later we doubled the lead and this time it was all about Michael-Percil, who was a constant threat to United’s defenders every time he was on the ball. Picking up possession out wide midway inside the Newcastle half, he tricked his way past one player, raced into the box, beat another and then unleashed a fierce drive which flew past Woodman at his near post.

Dominant in possession, we restricted the Magpies to just one half-chance before the break, Alex Gilliead heading a loose ball back into the area which Ryan McKinnon flicked goalwards but it was an easy save for Luke McGee.

And we ended the half on top as Grant Ward’s 20-yard drive was saved and Dombaxe fired over from the edge of the box, Miller’s creativity at the heart of both opportunities.

Newcastle emerged after the interval with more purpose and immediately made it pay as they pulled a goal back just four minutes in, Lewis Aird scoring having just come on as a substitute.

And they went close to levelling on the hour mark but McGee was equal to Kyle Cameron’s effort.

But 60 seconds later, we restored our two-goal advantage when Ruben Lameiras slipped the ball through to Miller eight yards out and although Woodman got a hand to his shot, he couldn’t prevent it going in.

We continued to create chances, with substitute Victor Zapata-Caicedo reacting quickly to a saved shot only for the visitors’ keeper to deny him on the rebound and Woodman needed to be alert to tip over Dombaxe’s effort which deflected off McKinnon and almost looped in.

The scoring was completed from the penalty spot five minutes from time, Lesniak’s fine ball inside the full-back releasing McEvoy who was brought down by Woodman and Dombaxe made no mistake from 12 yards to cap a good performance from the lads.

"I thought we were exceptional in the first half," reported coach Alex Inglethorpe.

"That performance was exactly the style of football we want to play in terms of possession, domination and we were very brave on the ball.

"In the second half we played well without hitting the heights of the first half, but we still controlled the game. I was delighted with the lads."

Spurs: McGee, Ward, Gardiner, Ogilvie, Smith, Lesniak, Dombaxe, Lameiras (Zapata-Caicedo 62), Michael-Percil, McEvoy, Miller.