The Weekly Review: A 9-1 win, an FA Cup Quarter Final and six-points clear of relegation

All in all, it was a fantastic week of football for Newcastle United Football Club, on a Saturday where Saint-Maximin inspired the senior side to a 2-1 win at Turf Moor whilst Elliot Anderson scored a fantastic direct free-kick to send the U-18s through to the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final. Newcastle United Women’s side got back to winning ways with a huge 9-1 win over Solihull Moors, but it was disappointment for the U-23s as a certain new-signing made his debut.

Saint-Maximin winner provides NUFC with valuable three points

The Senior side moved six points clear of Fulham and the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. After a disappointing first half where the Magpies went in 1-0 down to a Vydra goal, the addition of Saint-Maximin just before the hour mark caused immediate change after assisting Murphy and then scoring a dazzling goal of his own. Read more here, in Alex’s in-depth review of Saint-Maximin bailing out Bruce.

This weekend, the first team will host an incredibly in-form (and previously Newcastle linked) Jesse Lingard and West Ham side who are seeking a top-four finish!

Anderson’s free-kick sees Newcastle U-18s through FA Youth Cup thriller

Newcastle’s U-18s are off to the FA Youth Cup quarter finals after a spirited performance on Saturday saw off Watford in extra-time. The youth side had a perfect start when Lucas De Bolle was picked out by Stephenson to slot home in the 5th minute of the game. Watford pulled one back shortly after, but the Toon retook the lead before half-time when Stephenson turned from provider to goalscorer to put Newcastle 2-1 up and make it four goals in two games after his hat-trick in the previous round.

After the break Watford equalised once more, this time when Nicholson was judged to have brought down a Watford player in the box and the penalty was dispatched. Newcastle’s keeper Thompson produced a couple of fine saves to keep them in the contest before the 90 minutes were up.

As the 120 minutes were almost coming to an end and penalties looked for certain, the lively substitute Reagen Thomson (who also managed to get 10 minutes off the bench for the U-23s this week) was tripped outside the box. After that, as they say, is history as England’s U-19 Anderson stepped up and curled a fantastic effort over the wall and into the top left corner.

Neil Winskill’s side move on to face Aston Villa U18s in the Quarters after they convincingly beat Burton Albion U18s 9-0 today in their fifth round match.

Newcastle United Women hammer Solihull Moors in Friendly

On Sunday evening, Newcastle United Women (NUW) hosted fellow FA Women’s National League Div 1 side, Solihull Moors in a friendly, coming out all guns blazing to win 9-1. It was only NUWs second game back since the resumption of non-elite football due to lockdown restrictions. Their first back saw them fall in extra-time to Brighouse Town in the Vitality FA Cup Second Round last weekend.

But Newcastle started the much stronger of the sides this time out, taking only 11 minutes to score their first through Katie Barker. By the 20 minute mark, the tie was effectively over after goals from Ellen Packham, Georgia Gibson & Imogen Longcake had NUW 4-0 up. Gibson scored her second just before half time to send the ladies in 5-0 at the break. Two second half goals from Rhiannon Gray, as well as two own-goals either side of a long-ranged effort for Solihull, wrapped up a convincing win and provided some fantastic form to take into next week’s Northumbria FA County Cup match against Wallsend Reserves this coming Sunday.

Newcastle U-23s fall short once again

A pretty torrid season continued for the U-23s as they lost 4-0 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers U-23s. The youth-side, who have won only once in their past seven PL2 matches, were convincingly beaten and now sit just one point above the base of the PL2 Division 2 standings, having played a game more than last placed West Bromwich Albion.

Newcastle were lucky to only be trailing 1-0 at half time after Jake Turner - who has returned to the club after a loan spell at Morecambe - produced a couple of fine saves. The young Magpies came closest to scoring when Flaherty hit a decent left-footed shot from outside of the box that produced a good save from the Wolves keeper. All three of Wolves second half goals were down to some awful defensive errors from the Newcastle back five and it’s errors like those that have cost the side this season. Tom Allan came close to scoring a consolation goal late on after being fed through one-on-one but again, the Wolves keeper made a good save.

One major positive however, was the introduction at 2-0 down of debutant Matt Bondswell. The 18 year old, ex-RB Leipzig and Nottingham Forest player, who had a loan spell at Dutch outfit FC Dordrecht earlier this season, signed with the Magpies in early February after his contract was mutually cut short at Leipzig. Newcastle beat the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in securing the England U18s international, who is initially linking up with the U-23s.

The club have high hopes for the bright young left-back who will be looking to establish himself in the U-23s starting line-up before looking to displace the likes of Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis in the senior squad, and I look forward to monitoring his progress.

Next up for the U-23s, is a trip to promotion-seeking, second placed Stoke City U-23s on Monday evening.

And a little sweetener to finish with...

There were some fantastic results in the lower leagues this past week, where we saw 5under1and lose huge momentum in their hunt for automatic promotion from...checks down the tables...League One.

A 2-1 home loss to Charlton on Saturday was followed up with yet another loss, as they threw away a lead against 21st (TWENTY FIRST) placed Wigan Athletic. After picking up 1 point from their last possible 9, 5under1and now sit 5 points away from automatic promotion and I for one, can’t wait to be cheering on the likes of Portsmouth and Lincoln City(?!) in the play-offs.

HWTL!