The young Blues, who missed out on reclaiming top spot in the U18 Premier League, had Keke Simmonds and Henri Ogunby on target and finished the game with 10 men after Alpha Diounkou picked up a second yellow card.
What happeend
This was a game of contrasting halves.
Both sides toiled in midfield early on, looking assured on the ball but unable to make a telling pass in the final third.
Newcastle were edging proceedings and mustered a couple of half chances thanks to lively winger Deese Kasinga, who sent a header wide of the post before flashing a ball across the face of goal, which his team mates were unable to capitalise on.
City fared no better and a Tommy Doyle free kick – fired straight at the keeper – was their only effort of note before Yeboah Amankwah ended Tommy Allen’s mazy run to concede a penalty.
Captain Matthew Longstaff duly dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left corner and minutes later Keke Simmonds put the ball in the other corner from 12 yards after Ian Poveda was fouled.
The game sprang to life after the break but it largely went in Newcastle’s favour, whose energy prevented a City side that looked less composed in possession, from finding any rhythm.
In a physical encounter Rowan McDonald’s sharpness in the tackle proved effective at the base of midfield, but it was the Magpies who regained the lead within four minutes of the restart.
And they did so in fine fashion.
Elias Sorensen curled in a 20-yard free kick and then on the hour mark, substitute Kelland Watts extended the lead in an equally impressive manner, as he weaved inside and arrowed the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.
There was no shortage of effort on City’s part and if anything, they would have benefitted from a little more patience as they chased the game.
Jeremie Frimpong’s surging runs from right-back were causing the visitors problems and one such foray forward saw City pull one back as Ogunby got himself on the end of a cross to tap home from close range.
Gareth Taylor’s youngsters had little to celebrate after that, however, as Diounkou received his marching orders 10 minutes from time, after an accumulation of fouls saw a second yellow card issued.
Without a win all season, Newcastle sensed victory and from there they capitalised.
Lewis Cass made it 4-2 after he stole in at the far post to guide home a corner and with City chasing the game, the North East outfit profited from the gaps left in defence.
They were blessed with pace on the counter and one such attack saw Sorensen race clear of the Blues’ defence and round Sokol, who clipped him for the third penalty of the game, which the No.10 converted to seal the victory.
How they lined up
With several U18s turning out for the EDS against Liverpool, the manager made five changes to the team that started against Wolves.
Sokol was in goal and was protected by a back four of Diounkou, Amankwah, Eric Garcia and Frimpong.
McDonald anchored midfield with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Doyle just ahead of him.
Ogunby operated on the right flank and Poveda on the left, either side of Simmonds.
What it means
It was only a third defeat of the season for Taylor’s side, who surrendered their unbeaten home record to the Magpies and the result means City remain in second place in the U18 Premier League, one point behind an unbeaten Liverpool side.
Up next
Middlesbrough are the next side to visit the City Football Academy on Saturday 20 January. Taylor’s youngsters won 2-1 on Teeside back in August, with Ogunby and Nathanael Ogbeta on target for the Blues.
After that, City travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 3 February.
