Match Review: Boro U21s 3 Newcastle United U21s 2

Boro’s Under-21s produced a dramatic late turnaround to take all three points from north east neighbours Newcastle on Friday evening. 

Trailing 2-1 from the first half, the youngsters scored twice at the death to snatch victory. 

A pulsating first 45 at Heritage Park could easily have returned more goals than the three it did, and the visiting Magpies took an early lead when Ben Parkinson worked room for a shot in Boro’s area and found the bottom corner. 

Mark Tinkler’s side were quickly on terms when Pharrell Willis delivered low from the left and Ajay Matthews swept in.

The away side, though, went back in front when Kyle Crossley’s cross-shot took a wicked deflection off Luke Woolston to beat goalkeeper Shea Connor.

A second equaliser evaded the Boro in the first half; Sonny Finch’s thunderous shot rattled the crossbar and bounced clear, while AJ Bridge was unlucky not to find the back of the net as his curling strike was tipped over by Will Brown. 

Newcastle were also cursing their fortunes as they twice struck the woodwork in the latter stages of the first period.

In a stop-start second half, chances were fewer and far between, the visitors mostly content to look after their lead and make life difficult for Boro. 

That was that, until a late flurry of action turned the tide in the Teessiders’ favour. 

With minutes of normal time to play, skipper Jack Hannah glanced home from Bridge’s free-kick to level up the scores. 

As the clocked ticked over into eight minutes of stoppage time, Matthews looked to have squandered the chance to seal all three points when he took a good touch into space then blasted over from close range. 

But minutes later, Boro broke again and Willis weaved into space on the edge of the area before slamming a beauty beyond Brown.

There was even time for a further chance for the Boro, but the woodwork thwarted Finch again as his placed finish struck the foot of the post.