Newcastle United Under-21s are on the brink of elimination from the Papa John's Trophy in the group stages - despite a brave effort against Barnsley at Oakwell tonight.
United battled hard without creating any clear-cut chances but were just 10 minutes away from taking the game to penalties in Group E. However, late goals for the Tykes mean Elliott Dickman's side must now beat Lincoln City in their final group match and hope Doncaster beat Barnsley in the other match.
It was a disappointing night for Newcastle after they edged possession and outpassed their opponents but managed just two shots on target.
Barnsley boss Michael Duff named a completely different side to the one that beat Cambridge United 3-0 at the weekend. United's first chance came after Matty Bondswell's run down the left before he cut the ball back for Jay Turner-Cooke but he steered just over on seven minutes.
Chances for both sides were at a premium and the scores remained level mid-way through the first half. Toon defender Charlie Wiggett required treatment on 22 minutes with the game briefly paused before he was allowed to continue after a facial injury.
Five minutes later Kyle Crossley was sent free in the box but his effort was blocked in the box. On 32 minutes Dylan Stephenson got free on the right but Jamie Searle rushed out to block him.
Newcastle keeper Jude Smith made a fine save low down to deny Slobodan Tedic six minutes before the break with the follow up attack seeing Joe Ackroyd's diving header crash back off the crossbar.
Just before the break, Smith made a fine save on the line to deny Tadic who stabbed at goal three yards out. But the two sides went in level at the interval.
Barnsley made two changes at the break bringing on Will Lancaster for Nicky Fadden and Harrison Nejman for Hayden Pickard. But Newcastle had the first chance of the second half as Joe White got free down the left before drilling a tame shot at Searle.
Moments later, Tedic was on the attack again and hammered a shot at Smith who parried it in the air before Bondswell hacked it clear. Smith then denied Josh Martin after he burst through unmarked down the left-hand side of the penalty area.
A back post effort from Fabio Jalo flew wide before Tedic again misfired at the mid-way stage of the second half. The young Magpies made a change with 15 minutes left as Jordan Hackett came on for the closing stages.
The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster replaced Crossley with the game still goal-less. The ex-Spurs player usually operates as a left-back but was pushed high up the left-flank as an attacking force.
Barnsley inflicted a cruel blow on the black and whites with 10 minutes left. The ball spun kindly for sub Jack Butterfill after Ziyad Larkeche's cross. Butterfill then saw his first shot hit Bondswell before the rebound was guided underneath Smith.
Coach Dickman then replaced Scott with Ben Parkinson for another change.
It was game over with five minutes left as on loan Fulham teenager Larkeche stepped up and curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner. United's Cameron Ferguson and Harry Barclay replaced Ellis Stanton and Nathan Carlyon for the closing stages.
Turner-Cooke's stoppage time free-kick flew straight into the hands of Searle but it did not threaten the home stopper. Newcastle are now relying on a big performance and help from others when they face Lincoln next month.
READ NEXT
- Hugo Ekitike's PSG situation after Newcastle United snub a timely reminder to European talen
- Possession counts for little as United held: Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth match report
- Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil 'never really felt under threat' by Newcastle United
- Newcastle United supporters' 'embarrassing' verdict after Bournemouth draw
- Alan Shearer's 'poor' Newcastle United verdict amid Bournemouth praise
- Isak denied service, Burn pick at the back: Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth player ratings
