WITH both sides struggling in the latter stages of the season, and separated by just two points, it was no surprise that Newcastle’s FA Premier Academy League game at Sheffield United ended in stalemate.
Newcastle had won just one of their last eight games, which included six straight defeats, while the Blades had failed to win any of their last five matches.
The in-form Ryan McGorrigan gave the Magpies an early advantage when he found the net after just two minutes.
Sprinting on to Ben Sayers’ ball over the top, McGorrigan nudged the ball past the advancing keeper to give Newcastle a dream start.
Newcastle looked to be heading to the dressing rooms at half-time with a slender advantage in their final game of the campaign.
But the hosts, 4-3 winners on Tyneside back in September, levelled in the final minute and went close to recording a double after the break.
England Under-18 keeper Jak Alnwick twice kept Newcastle in the game with important saves, while Remi Streete was in the right place at the right time to head another home effort off the line.
The Magpies defended doggedly to pick up a point that almost became all three late on, leading scorer Dan Taylor unable to produce the match-winning finish.
NEWCASTLE UNITED UNDER-18s: Alnwick; Nicholson, Riley, Sayer (Miele 57), Streete, Forlan, McGorrigan, Nzuzi, Taylor, Spear, (Maddison 80), Hoganson. Subs: (not used) Robinson (gk), Smith, Knight.
