Newcastle United U21s triumph over Gateshead 4-3 in a National League Cup match. Dominic Scurr reflects on the game as the young Magpies show resilience, coming back from 3-1 down to snatch a 90th-minute winner.
00:00Here at the Gateshead International Stadium, where Newcastle United under-21s have just beaten Gateshead 4-3 in an absolute thriller in the National League Cup.
00:10Perfect tonic to all that transfer speculation and talk.
00:15Just coming to see a proper game of football, warm sunny night at the International Stadium.
00:19And yeah, you might be able to hear in the background, Newcastle got knocked down, but they did not know when they were beaten 3-1 down at one stage.
00:30Got it back to 4-3, 90th minute winner.
00:34And I remember speaking to former Newcastle under-21s coach, Dermot O'Carroll, last season.
00:40He described the National League Cup as the best competition Newcastle under-21s are involved in.
00:44Because it's men's football, but it's at a level where the players can really express themselves and really attack the games.
00:52And we saw that tonight. Competitive game of football.
00:55Gateshead gave it a right good go themselves. They were excellent for an hour.
00:59And then just the fitness and a couple of changes from Newcastle really saw them over the line in the end and come back into the game.
01:09In terms of the players who caught the eye, it's probably no surprise Sean Neve, who's been in and around the first team training with the first team.
01:18He was very good, led the line, a real handful and good finish for Newcastle's opening goal, which was an equaliser.
01:27Good movement. Trevon Sunusi, who was also very lively, likes to carry the ball.
01:33He might run down the odd blind alley. He might lack the end product at times.
01:38But really good physical performance. Really kept driving every time he got the ball.
01:42Gave the Gateshead defence something to think about.
01:45Just when it looked like the overrun, it picks out Leo Sahar.
01:48Great crossing at the box. Leo Sahar, at right back, real technical ability.
01:53Real good quality with his crossing and that was good to see.
01:56And then first time finish from Sean Neve to equalise for Newcastle.
02:00And after that, Gateshead really got into the game.
02:03They got a foothold, ended up 3-1 up.
02:07And second half, after a really slow start from Newcastle's perspective, brought on Kyle Fitzgerald, 18-year-old midfielder.
02:14Signed from Galway United earlier in the year, at the start of the year.
02:19And for me, I thought he was the pick of the bunch in the second half.
02:22Shortly after coming on, he slips through a proper cutting through ball for Sean Neve, who can't quite apply the finish.
02:32But not long after that, pulls the goal back for Newcastle.
02:35Makes it 3-2.
02:37Good finish into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
02:41Then, Sean Neve himself, who was having a frustrating second half, to be honest.
02:45He was still leading the line.
02:46Still kept going, plugging away.
02:47And that tenacity really shone through when it looked like he'd gone down inside the box.
02:53It looked like he'd lost the ball.
02:54But it gets back on his feet.
02:56Good footwork.
02:58Drills a low cross across the face of goal.
03:00And it's turned in to his own net by Gateshead defender, former Sunderland defender, Kenton Richardson.
03:06So, 3-3.
03:08Heading into the final minutes of the game.
03:10I mean, Newcastle, to be honest, 20 minutes before that, really on top after going 3-1 down.
03:16Like I say, the changes, the introduction of Kyle Fitzgerald off the bench really helped turn the game in Newcastle's favour.
03:25And then it was Cathal Heffernan, bullet header in the 90th minute to make it 4-3 to Newcastle.
03:33And probably deserved it on the whole.
03:36Okay, they weren't great after initially equalising early on, 15 minutes into about that hour mark.
03:43But then the way they ended the game, the way the fitness and quality shone through in the end gives them a deserved win.
03:50And just what a great game of football.
03:52Gets you ready.
03:53Gets you pumped for the start of the competitive season as well.
03:57So, that was Dom Sker here at the Gateshead International Stadium.
04:04Be more to come.
04:05Reaction from Robbie Stockdale, who's the interim Newcastle Under-21s manager at the moment.
04:12He's actually interviewed to become permanent manager.
04:15No confirmation on whether he is the permanent manager just yet.
04:18No official confirmation.
04:20But he is in charge at the moment.
04:22So, yeah, more reaction from this game to come from Robbie Stockdale, from a Newcastle Under-21s player as well, over on ShieldsGazette.com.
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