Hartlepool United 1-2 Newcastle United U21

Hartlepool United suffered a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United Under-21s in the National League Cup.

All three goals arrived in a closely contested first half. Kyran Thompson gave the Magpies the lead before Jack Nolan’s header levelled the scores, but an own goal from Reiss McNally on 35 minutes proved decisive.

Pete Wild made eight changes to his starting XI, with defender Max Clark making his first start for the club following his arrival last week.

The hosts created the first clear opportunity of the match after just two minutes, when Luke Charman’s header, from a Clark cross, struck the crossbar of Roman Dowell’s goal.

Newcastle broke the deadlock on nine minutes. An unmarked Thompson was left with a simple close-range finish after meeting Henry Johnson’s low cross.

Pools drew level on 26 minutes when Nolan converted a back-post header from a pinpoint, in-swinging cross from Terry Bondo on the right.

The visitors restored their advantage on 35 minutes. Thompson’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off McNally, wrong-footing Nathan Fisher in the Pools goal.

After the interval, neither goalkeeper was seriously tested, with both sides lacking a clinical edge in the final third.

HUFC XI: Fisher, McNally © (Eccleston 76’), Harris (Ilunga 46’), Charman (Popov 62’), Sheron (Penprase 76’), Penman, Nolan, Thornton, Darcy, Bondo, Clark (C.Smith 71’)

Subs not used: Thompson, Conyard.