Report: Newcastle United U23s 6-2 Iron U23s

George Hornshaw and Yasin Ben El-Mhanni were on target but a youthful Iron Under-23s side were defeated 6-2 at Newcastle United in the Premier League Cup group stages on Friday afternoon.

There were two early chances for the hosts, but both were blocked by the Iron as a low cross was played in from the right by Adam Wilson. Scunthorpe defenders threw themselves in front of the ball before diverting clear.

The fourth minute saw good goalkeeping from Tom Collins, as he sprawled at the feet of Thomas Allan following work from Rosaire Longelo down the left channel. Collins got his legs on the ball to prevent a tap-in before the Iron cleared.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Longelo headed wide for the hosts after the Iron initially cleared a left-winged free-kick. The ball was then played to the right channel before being crossed for the Magpies number 10.

Two minutes later, a left-footed in swinger was played in from the left. The flag went up for offside as the cross was cleared to the edge of the box and play was halted by the referee just as Longelo crashed an effort off the bar.

Soon after, there was a good passage of play down the left channel for the Iron with Mason O’Malley finding Ben El-Mhanni with the throw. He and Tom Pugh then combined to win another throw before George Hornshaw got involved and won a corner.

Ben El-Mhanni’s low corner looked to take advantage of the wind, but the defender on the near post read it and cleared. Ben El-Mhanni picked up the ball again and linked up with Trialist, but a ricochet saw the ball out.

The 17th minute saw Allan drill the hosts into the lead as they won back possession, slipping the ball down the right channel. The flag stayed down, with Allan advancing on goal to rifle the shot low into the net.

Just two minutes later, he doubled the lead as Allan netted his second goal following work down the left channel before a low cross came in and allowed Allan to smash home the second from close range into the roof of the net.

With 22 minutes on the clock, a loose pass from the hosts across their own goal went out for a throw on the left. O’Malley and Ben El-Mhanni linked up to win another before Jessop’s handball claims were turned down.

At the other end, Victor Fernandez twice slipped in Liam Gibson down the left. Firstly, Jessop did well to head clear before the second cross flashed across goal and wide.

On 26 minutes, Jack Young picked out a neat pass for Fernandez over on the left. He cut onto his right and looked to find space by taking the ball across the edge of the penalty area. His eventual shot was blocked and rolled to Collins.

Soon after, Lewis Cass was slipped in down the right, but the attack was broken up by two sliding challenges by Jai Rowe, which were perfectly timed - one of which in the penalty area. Pugh came out with possession and cleared.

The 38th minute saw a fine save by Collins to deny Fernandez from point blank range, with the ball flying off towards the half way line. It was a good move involving Allan and Anderson before play spread left.

On 41 minutes, the Magpies scored a third. Elliot Anderson strode forward, getting himself to the edge of the area before brilliantly picking his spot across goal and into the far corner of the net.

However, the Iron reduced the deficit just before the interval with Jessop holding up the ball just inside the area, bouncing it off for Hornshaw, who saw his ferocious drive nestle in the top corner of the net.

The start of the second period saw a fine flying save from Collins as he sprawled to his left to deny a 30-yard free-kick from Allan. Longelo looked to pick up the loose ball, but he was offside.

With 53 minutes gone, the hosts won a succession of free-kicks, with the latter about 35-yards from goal. Longelo tried his luck, but Collins got across to comfortably gather.

Scunthorpe pulled another back just a minute later as they won the ball following a loose pass towards the Newcastle defence. Ben El-Mhanni picked up the ball and guided it into the left corner to net against his former club.

Straight after, the Iron pushed for the equaliser as Pugh advanced into the area with the ball. His low shot across goal forced Turner to push the ball out, but there was no Iron player to follow up with the rebound.

The hosts soon added a fourth goal on 60 minutes though as Jack Young steered a free-kick into the top left corner of the net from the edge of the box.

With 69 minutes gone, Allan lashed a left-footed 20-yard effort across goal and wide of the target as he searched for his hat-trick.

Three minutes later, Shrimpton turned behind and appeared to have his heel clipped. The Newcastle player stopped, realising the referee hadn’t given it and almost scored, but for a fine save by Collins.

The 78th minute saw Yannick Toure add a fifth as he got the luck of two ricochets to put him in the clear before he rolled the ball beyond Collins and into the net.

Late on, Longelo had an effort blocked by Baker as the hosts came forward looking for another, while Pugh was thwarted at the other end. With 90 minutes on the clock, Anderson had an 18-yard effort blocked, with the ball looping up into the air and the wind taking it 20-yards wide and out for a corner.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Oisin McEntee headed in the sixth from a corner with Collins colliding with the post attempting to save the effort. He required treatment afterwards, with full-time coming soon after play resumed.

NEWCASTLE: Turner, Cass, Francillette, McEntee, Gibson, Young, Anderson, Wilson (Sangare, 58), Fernández (Touré, 58), Longelo, Allan.

NEWCASTLE SUBS NOT USED: Gamblin, Marshall, J. Scott.

IRON: Collins, Baker, O’Malley, Shrimpton (Chadli, 87), Rowe (Barks, 45), Cummings, Pugh, Hornshaw (Silva, 85), Trialist, Ben El-Mhanni, Jessop.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Balme, Wilson.

ATTENDANCE: 201.