U23 Report: Newcastle 3-0 Saints

In tough conditions, the first goal came courtesy of forward Luke Charman on the half-hour mark, who was quickest to react to a loose ball in the area and tuck home, leaving Jack Rose with little chance of intercepting.

Yannick Touré netted a second-half double to secure three points, as an uncharacteristic Saints performance was punished by the group’s leaders, on a particularly windy night at Northumberland’s County FA.

Radhi Jaïdi's side, who entered the tie in good form after recent success over Man United, have a week to shake off tonight's below par display, as they host Fulham in a crucial Premier League 2 tie at Staplewood next Friday.

In a game which lacked quality for the most part, largely thanks to the conditions, a pair of headers were the first two chances of note.

Harry Hamblin’s searching ball found the head of Jonathan Afolabi in the eighth minute, whose glancing header did little to trouble Nathan Harker.

Afolabi’s opposite number, Touré, headed marginally wide of the mark from closer range moments later, before Will Ferry had escaped down the left for the visitors, but drove his effort into the side netting off balance.

The wind was troubling for both teams, especially from set-pieces, where in-swinging corners swirled unpredictably. Harker had flapped at a couple, managing to eventually clear, as Saints pressed, but didn't come particularly close to an opener. 

But it was the wind that seemed to benefit Newcastle in the 28th minute, as they made their first breakthrough. A free-kick was floated in from the left, which held up in the air, and wasn’t dealt with by Saints, before it dropped generously at the feet of Charman, who slammed home.

The No.10 then clashed awkwardly with captain Tom O’Connor, who came out of the challenge unscathed, but forced an early exit for the scorer - who was stretchered from the field.

Nine minutes of additional time were added to the first period, with a further chance falling to Thomas Allan, who shot off target under pressure from Aaron O’Driscoll.

Jaïdi’s youngsters were struggling to find their usual rhythm, and needed Rose to keep them in the tie midway through the second half.

Springing to his left, the stopper was equal to Matthew Longstaff’s free-kick, which was bent around the wall and destined for the top corner had it not been for Rose’s intervention. 

But his effort was ultimately in vein, as the tie was sealed 10 minutes from time. Rosaire Longelo raced away down the left, motoring past Christoph Klarer, before picking out Touré centrally who swivelled and found the bottom corner.

The striker added insult to injury in stoppage time, completing his brace and securing all three points for Newcastle, who are likely to top Group H after tonight’s result.