A LAST gasp Everton equaliser denied United Reserves victory at Widnes after a second-half Shola Ameobi penalty looked set to earn three points.

Ameobi, taking another step along the fitness trail, fired a 64th minute spot-kick low to the right of home goalkeeper John Ruddy after James Troisi had been fouled by Toffees left-back Patrick Boyle.

United defended heroically but right on 90 minutes Andy van der Meyde beat Mark Bertram on the left and lifted a cross over the head of David Edgar for Polish striker Lukas Jutkiewicz - who played and scored for Swindon Youths against the Magpies in last season's Youth Cup - to control and shoot under Fraser Forster from ten yards.

Earlier, Forster had saved well from Brazilian Anderson de Silva's rising 56th minute shot as well as a close-range effort from Bjarni Vidarsson.

Two minutes after Ameobi's penalty goal, Republic of Ireland under-21 international Aidan Downes beat Forster but saw his shot come back off the crossbar.

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In the 88th minute, Vidarsson squandered a glorious chance of the equaliser, pulling his shot wide from just six yards.

But finally the equaliser Everton deserved arrived and United, with Adam Sadler in charge following the departure of Lee Clark to Norwich, were denied victory.

EVERTON RES: Ruddy, Densmore, Boyle, Irving, Rodwell, Vidarsson, van der Meyde, De Silva, Kissock, Jutkiewicz, Downes.
Subs: Morrison, Jones, Harpur, Spencer, Sinnott.

NEWCASTLE UNITED RES: Forster, Bertram, Patterson, Pattison, Francis, Edgar, Troisi, Doninger, Ameobi, Godsmark, LuaLua (sub Donaldson 75).
Subs: Danquah, Morris, McLaughlin, Filler.

Referee: R L Metcalfe.
Attendance: 561.