Leicester City U-18s 2, Newcastle Utd U-18s 2

Aug 25 2008 The Journal

TWO early Leicester goals gave Newcastle’s youngsters a mountain to climb – but they come away with a draw in their opening Academy League match.

Fabio Zamblera’s 45th-minute penalty gave United hope, and five minutes from time new boy Nile Ranger guided in a 12-yard shot through a crowded area.

The equaliser capped a sterling debut for the 17-year-old former Southampton starlet who produced an all-action display.

United were caught asleep after six minutes when Billy Kee flicked on a long clearance from City keeper Robert Ambrusics and Jorrin John fired in.

Eleven minutes later Craig King got between Matt Grieve and Shane Ferguson to lob John’s pass over Ole Soderberg.

Although Zamblera earned and converted the penalty that made it 2-1, coach Kenny Wharton said: “We were disappointed with the opening half because it looked like we didn’t want to compete.” Ranger, lively throughout, got the equaliser in the 85th minute when the ball spun to him and he placed it in.

NEWCASTLE UNITED UNDER-18s: Soderberg, Wrightson (McLaughlin 45), Grieve, Tozer, Ferguson, McCrudden (Bath 61), Donaldson, Newton (Taylor 90), Marwood, Zamblera, Ranger. Subs (not used): Neary, Johnson.