Thompson double sinks Hartlepool as Newcastle U21s edge cup tie

Newcastle United Under-21s secured a 2-1 victory over Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on Tuesday night. Teenage forward Kyran Thompson netted twice in the National League Cup.

Pete Wild had insisted the game would be treated as a first-team encounter. Pools showed as much in the first half. Former Newcastle academy product Luke Charman powered a Max Clark cross down to the ground in the opening period. His near-post header was hooked back out by the crossbar, and danger was averted.

Thompson strikes twice

Newcastle’s youngsters took the lead in the ninth minute. Logan Watts played a diagonal ball out to Johnny Emerson on the right. His low cross found Thompson, who finished first time past Nathan Fisher. It was the 17-year-old’s second goal in two starts at the under-21 level.

Hartlepool hit back before the half-hour mark. Terry Bondo delivered a cross from the left, and Jack Nolan met it at the back post, heading into the bottom corner. As a result, the game opened up, and Matheos Ferreira soon saw a good effort fly over the bar from close range.

However, Thompson restored the lead in the 35th minute, albeit with a slice of luck. His shot from the edge of the box struck Pools captain Reiss McNally, wrong-footed Fisher and then squirmed through his gloves.

Earlier, Fisher had pushed Thompson’s half-volley round the post. Meanwhile, the striker also dragged another effort wide as he continued his search for a first-half hat-trick.

Pools run out of ideas

Hartlepool failed to register a single shot on target after the break. Afner Cá had a fierce shot blocked for a corner after a quick Newcastle counter. Substitute Kyle Fitzgerald’s late cross-cum-shot drifted wide of the post. Roman Dowell, the 16-year-old goalkeeper in the visitors’ goal, was rarely troubled.

The attendance was 578, including 107 travelling Newcastle supporters. The result means the Pools finished their cup campaign having lost three games, after suffering 10-0 at Middlesbrough and narrowly losing to Everton in their first two games of the competition. 

Wild’s side, who are 20th in the National League, now turn their attention to Saturday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash against the National League North side Marine.

For Newcastle, it was a first back-to-back win of the campaign. Their next game is a Premier League 2 trip to Sunderland at St James’ Park on Monday 26 October (7pm).