NEWCASTLE UNITED U18s 0
SHREWSBURY TOWN U18s 1
FA Youth Cup Third Round
St.James' Park
Monday, December 17, 2007
Kick off 7pm

Craig Hope reports from St.James' Park ...

NEWCASTLE United under-18s saw their FA Youth Cup dreams dashed at the first hurdle as Shrewsbury Town snatched a late win at St.James' Park.

The Third Round fixture had seemed destined for extra-time and a possible penalty shootout until Stephen Allen fired a 90^th minute winner for the visitors.

But the young Magpies, cheered on from the stands by the watching Sam Allardyce, Alan Smith and Charles N'Zogbia, will be kicking themselves having seen a string of chances go begging throughout the game.

LuaLua was clearly in the mood and won a free-kick for the hosts after another dribble in the 10^th minute.

James Marwood took the resulting deadball and was unlucky to see his low cross-cum-shot strike the base of the post after making its way through a crowd of bodies inside the penalty area.

LuaLua was then denied what appeared to be a clear penalty, full-back Scott Keyes scything down the Congolese winger in the 15^th minute only for the Magpies protests to be waved away by referee Stephen Smith.

Shrewsbury had rarely threatened the home goal but saw an effort chalked off in the 19^th minute.

Dan Evans volleyed home from Allen's headed knockdown but the latter was adjudged to have fouled Matthew Grieve in the process and United survived.

Jonny Godsmark then saw a low shot spilled by Singh only for the lurking Ryan Donaldson to turn the loose ball over the bar from close range - to be fair to the young England striker it was a difficult chance amid a crowd of defenders inside the area.

The visitors almost found a breakthrough just after the half hour, Toon stopper Dan Mullen pulling off a top drawer save to palm Evans' close range shot around the post.

Donaldson surged into the Town box six minutes into the second period but saw his shot from a narrow angle forced around the upright by Singh.

The 17-year-old striker looked United's best bet for a goal and again went close with a shot-on-the-turn from 10 yards out, Singh pouncing on the loose ball at the feet of Godsmark after spilling the original effort.

Singh was proving to be a real thorn in the black and white side and the young keeper was at full stretch to save from Marwood after Godsmark's low cross had found its way across the goalmouth.

And, just when both sides appeared to have settled for another 30 minutes of extra-time, Allen popped up to send the Shrews into the next round with a dipping 30-yard strike which flew above the despairing Mullen and into the Leazes End net.

NUFC: Dan Mullen, Alex Patterson, Darren Lough, Alex Francis (Mark Bertram, 70m), Callum Morris, Matthew Grieve, Jonny Godsmark, James Marwood (Frank Wiafe Danquah, 78m), Ryan Donaldson, Mark Doninger, Kazenga LuaLua
Subs not used: Dan Neary, Patrick McLaughlin, James Taylor 

STFC: Jasbir Singh, Scott Keyes, Aaron Gibson, Harry Hooman, Dan Pyle, Stephen Allen, Stephen Davey, Anthony McDowell, Tom Moss, Dan Evans (Jan Coulston, 75m), Aaron Brown
Subs not used: Tom Birch, Callum Wright, Kallum Evitts, Jason Wood

Referee: Stephen Smith
Attendance: 398