B Team Report: Dibling hat-trick inspires win

The opener for Dave Horseman’s side came after just six minutes, talented youngster Tyler Dibling with his first of the afternoon via a run from just past the halfway line, concluding with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Saints’ and Dibling’s second was almost a carbon copy, the attacking-midfielder picking the ball up from deep before finding that same bottom corner on 33 minutes.

The 16-year-old secured a superb first-half hat-trick on 40 minutes, smashing home his third and sparking wild celebrations from his teammates.

After a spell of Newcastle pressure Saints looked to have sealed the result on 65 minutes, with Jimmy-Jay Morgan producing an audacious chip over keeper Mark Gillespie.

But the home side were not down and out, manufacturing a flurry of goals from Dylan Stephenson and Isaac Westendorf which was ultimately too little, too late.

Saints’ side was a youthful one with an eye on next season, the likes of Dibling and Morgan both in the side from the off.

It was a lively start from the visitors at St James’, pushing the hosts back and threatening with their pace.

This bright start culminated in the opening goal after just six minutes, Dibling picking the ball on the half-way line, carrying it to just outside the penalty area and slotting into the bottom corner.

After a bright start the home side, buoyed by the vocal support in the East Stand, came back into the contest, providing a test for the youthful Saints backline.

Harry Lewis was called into action for the first time on his return to the side just shy of the half hour mark. The Saints keeper proving equal to a back-post effort from Newcastle’s Jay Turner-Cooke.

Saints needed a second to ensure of some breathing space, which came on 33 minutes through an almost identical manner.

Dibling picked up the ball following a quick break and with Newcastle backing off found the exact same corner to double the lead.

The dominance didn’t stop there, and neither did the impressive evening for 16-year-old Dibling, who claimed his hat-trick on 40 minutes.

Into the second and Newcastle had it all to do if they were to salvage anything from the game.

The early stages suggested they had a chance of doing just that, pushing Saints back and encouraging the home support in the process.

Tom Allan came close on 55 minutes, bursting into the box from the left wing before Olly Lancashire and Will Tizzard tightened the angle and forced his strike into the side netting.

But Saints proved clinical on the counter, which proved to be the source of the fourth goal for the visitors.

After seeing his teammate Dibling flourish, Morgan was keen to get on the act too and did so with the coolest of finishes on 65 minutes.

The 16-year-old burst down the right wing, cut inside and dinked the ball over Mark Gillespie with the confidence of a player double his age.

Saints’ evening took a turn for the worse on 73 minutes, with Ramello Mitchell dismissed for a straight red after an altercation with Jay Turner-Cooke, who was only booked.

With the home side sensing an opportunity the attacks on Saints’ goal became more and more frequent.

First, Lewis was forced into a superb save on 76 minutes, tipping a close-range effort over the bar which looked destined to nestle into the top corner.

Newcastle then got their first goal back with just over ten minutes to play, Stephenson clipping the ball over onrushing Lewis and finding the far corner to the delight of the 600 fans.

A second soon followed via Westendorf, who headed home from inside the six-yard box.

It was now a question of shutting-up-shop as far as Saints were concerned, an action plan they executed to perfection during the remaining minutes of normal time plus the six added on.

Ultimately it was a huge three points for Horseman and his side, with four goals courtesy of players only 16-years-of-age.

The B team are back in action on Sunday, hosting Sunderland at St Mary’s Stadium from 2pm BST.