[rondwisan]

23/08/2014 14:39 - ManUtd.com, Cliff Butler
Newcastle U18 2 United U18 3


Demetri Mitchell grabbed a hat-trick as Manchester United’s Under-18s claimed their first win of the season at Newcastle United’s Little Benton training ground.

The Stretford-born youngster bagged two in the first half and completed his trio after the interval with a great finish past Magpies goalkeeper Freddie Goodman.

Coach Paul McGuinness brought his lads on the long journey north to Tyneside with a view to improving on last weekend’s season-opening stalemate against Bolton Wanderers at the Aon Training Complex.

And the mission was accomplished against Dave Watson’s side, who kept going until the final whistle was blown.**

United showed three changes from the side*who shared the points with*Bolton, with George Dorrington taking over from Dean Henderson between the sticks. Tyrell Warren took the defensive spot that trialist Oscar Borg occupied the previous Saturday, while Oliver Rathbone stepped in for Callum Gribbin, who was away on international duty.**

It was a cloudy, but pleasant afternoon on North Tyneside as the teams kicked off, watched by three or four dozen committed spectators.*

There was a tentative opening to the game from both sides, but it was the Reds who slowly gained the upper hand. A flurry of activity in the home area saw a trio of half-chances go begging, but in the 10th minute United got their noses in front.

A brief spell of pressure had the home defence struggling to clear and, when Zack Dearnley crossed from the right, Mitchell made no mistake from close range.

Five minutes later, Newcastle went close to finding the equaliser when Luke Charman’s header struck the crossbar.

But United stretched their lead in the 31st minute, with Mitchell grabbing his second goal of the game, this time from the penalty spot after Rathbone had been felled by Adam Laidler.

Sean Longstaff put the Magpies back in the picture with goal just as the referee was preparing to halt the proceedings for the half-time break.

The acceptable weather of the first half gave way to torrential rain after the break but that didn’t prevent Mitchell from claiming his third goal, in the 64th minute, with a cheeky lob over keeper*Woodman, after taking a pass from Devonte Redmond.

Newcastle were given the chance to reduce United’s advantage with 13 minutes remaining when they were awarded a penalty after Dorrington had fouled Jamie Holmes.

Jordan Storey took responsibility for the spot-kick but his firmly-hit shot thudded against Dorrington’s left upright.

Defender Kyle Cameron gave Newcastle a last-gasp glimmer of hope when he headed their second goal in added time, but it was too late to change the result.

United: Dorrington; Riley, Tuanzebe, Williams, Warren (Johnson 79); Rathbone, Borthwick-Jackson, Thompson (Redmond 49), Dearnley; McTominay; Mitchell. Subs not used: Henderson, Makela.