United's Under-18s grabbed a hard-earned point against a strong Newcastle side but slipped to second spot in the Academy Premier L…

United's Under-18s grabbed a hard-earned point against a strong Newcastle side but slipped to second spot in the Academy Premier League Group C.

The Reds surrendered top spot in the north west division to Everton, but only a point separates the two teams as the race to win the league hots up.

It was an action-packed first half as the windy conditions reeked havoc at Carrington, but the Reds impressed in the opening 45 minutes.

United strikers Joshua King and John Cofie caused Newcastle plenty of early problems early on, but it was Newcastle who took the lead after 11 minutes.

But despite the setback, the Reds hit back after 24 minutes. Nick Ajose fired in the free kick from the right flank and Paul Pogba glanced the ball home with his at the near post.

United deserved to be back in the game and very nearly added a second shortly afterwards. Norwegian striker King was sent racing into the box from Ajose's lofted ball from the left wing. King could have opted to cross the ball to one of his team-mates, but he took the Newcastle goalkeeper by surprise and went for goal. Unfortunately his powerful shot hit the crossbar.

Neither side added to the scoreline in the second half, meaning Everton take top spot.

The Toffees are on 33 points, one ahead of United on 32. But the league is very close. Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers keep up the chase in third and fourth on 30 points, while only six points separate leaders Everton and second-from-bottom Crewe Alexandra.

United: Devlin; Fornasier (Brown 72), Thorpe, McGinty, Fryers; Lingard; Hussain,
Pogba, Ajose; King (W.Keane 72), Cofie.
Subs not used: Johnstone, Giverin, Wootton.

U18s held by Newcastle

15TH MAR 2010

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