Newcastle United U21s were unable to hold out for all three points against a Middlesbrough side that's full of confidence on Friday evening. Mark Gillespie started in between the sticks for Elliot Dickman's side but could do nothing to keep out Joe Gibson's equaliser deep into second-half injury time.
Dylan Stephenson gave Newcastle the lead at Heritage Park just before half-time, slotting a low drive beyond Max Metcalfe into the bottom corner to make it four goals in four Premier League 2 matches. The result leaves the Magpies in sixth place, with two wins and a draw from their opening six games of the season.
Boro came into the tie full of confidence after an assured win over Sunderland U21s a week ago. United States international Matthew Hoppe lead the line for Mark Tinkler's side and showed glimpses of first-team pedigree in the opening stages. However, it was fellow strike partner Sonny Finch who went closest to opening the scoring in County Durham.
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Gillespie was alert to deny Finch in the opening stages and was then at full stretch to keep Pharrell Willis' effort out after smart work from Hayden Hackney. The Magpies took the lead when Stephenson was played in down the right, composing himself under pressure and firing a low drive across Metcalfe to give Newcastle the lead at the break.
It was tight affair following the restart and for all Boro's possession, the young Magpies limited them to very little in terms of clear-cut chances. Hoppe had an effort rattle the woodwork but Newcastle went close to extending the lead with an effort that rattled the crossbar.
With five minutes of injury time held aloft, Boro came forward through Hayden Hackney, teeing up Calum Kavanagh to fire an effort over the bar. Newcastle looked on course for their third win on the bounce, only for a late Gibson equaliser after good hold-up play from Isaac Fletcher.
Middlesbrough U21: Metcalfe, Robinson, Bilongo, Hannah, Boyd-Munce, Gibson, Cornet (Fletcher 75'), Willis, Hackney, Finch (Kavanagh 68'), Hoppe
Subs: Stott, Whelan, Kavanagh, Swann, Fletcher
Goal: Gibson (90)
Newcastle United U21: Gillespie, Bondswell, Wiggett, Carlyon, Jamie Miley (Brookwell 68'), Murphy, Turner-Cook, White, Scott (Hackett 87'), Trialist (Ndiweni 54'), Stephenson
Subs: Hackett, Ndiweni, Brookwell, Brown, Ferguson
Goal: Stephenson (38)
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