Crystal Palace's Academy side slipped to a 4-2 defeat at St James's Park tonight in a game that was not short of goals and bravery from the Palace youngsters.
Neither team started the game with any dominance and Newcastle drew first blood in the game's first real chance on the 24th minute when Phil Airey won a free kick for the Magpies on the left-hand side of the box. Samuel Adjei lined up the free kicked and hits a curling cross-come shot into the box. With a melee of bodies Charlie Mann's vision was obcured and appeared to take a deflection before hitting the back of the net.
Less than three minutes later the Magpies doubled their lead after Kieron Kenlock had a moment that all footballers dread. A long punt forward saw the right back try and control the ball on the edge of the box but the ball bounced off of his foot and landed straight to Adjei. Charlie Mann had already come out of his goal expecting to collect the long ball and Adjei simply lobbed the ball over Mann into an empty net.
At that point the Palace players rallied together and started to realise that they were not performing in the manner they have been accustomed to this seson. The young Eagles were thrown a lifeline on the 38th minute when Zaha won a penalty. The quick footed striker got away from his marker and as the ball was in the air Paul Dummett appeared to handle the ball. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot.
Joe Goldsmith stepped up to the plate and hit a low penalty to the right but the keeper Ben Alnwick was equal to it and ensured the score remained 2-0 to the Magpies.
The fans in the crowd must have been pinching themselves on the 40th minute when Zaha won another penalty against Dummnett when the defender tripped the yellow booted striker . This time Goldsmith hit the back of the net and made the score 2-1 going into the break.
The second half started positivley for Palace and they started to pass the ball around with some confidence and belief that they could come back from the goal defecit.
However, despite being on top Newcastle grabbed a third when Amble born stirker Phil Airey latched onto a Paul Dummett cross at the back post to restore their two goal advantage.
Three minutes later Jack Randall was given a free kick after being fouled 25 yards from goal. Alnwick set up a three man wall and was forced into a magnificent save after Randall's dipping free kick nearly found the bottom left corner, only to see Alnwick push the ball round the post.
On the 78th minute right back James Tavernier turned provider as he cut inside and played in Sammy Ameobi inside the box. Ameobi made no mistalke and dispatched the ball past Mann.
With the score at 4-1 Sekajja made it 4-2 less than two minutes after the restart. The nippy striker managed to get onto a long abll and slotted the ball home to give his team-mates hope of making a comback.
Despite some late pressure Newcastle held onto the win and ensured the Magpies went through to the next round.
TEAMS
NUFC: Jak Alnwick, James Tavernier, Jeff Henderson (c), Stephen Folan, Paul Dummett, Samuel Adjei, Greg McDermott, Brad Inman, Conor Newton, Sammy Ameobi, Phil Airey
Subs: Ben Robinson, Aaron Spear, Patrick Nzuzi, Liam Henderson, Daniel Taylor
CPFC: Charlie Mann, Kieran Kenlock, Matthew Parsons, Alex Wynter, Jerry Nnamani, Jack Holland, Jonathan Williams, Joe Goldsmith, Wilfred Zaha, Ibra Sekajja, Jack Randall
Subs: Jake Caprice, Ross Fitzsimmons, Kyle De Silva, Rhys Williamson Murrell, Malakai Field
Palace Scorers: Goldsmith 40, Sekajja 80
Newcastle Scorers: Adjei 23,24. Airey 53, Ameobi 78
