Fantastic four goals for Under-21s in impressive win against Toon

Four fine finishes made it five wins in six for our Under-21s in the Premier League 2 after a convincing 4-1 victory against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Luca Williams-Barnett impressed again with our first two goals, both clinical, to open the scoring on 20 minutes and then restore our advantage on 53 minutes after Cathal Heffernan's equaliser towards the end of the first half.

Dane Scarlett then pinged home a free-kick for 3-1 on 76 minutes and two minutes later, Tynan Thompson scored the goal he deserved after earlier hitting the crossbar.

Wayne Burnett's team are now third in the standings with leaders Manchester United up next after the international break.

We made a lightning start and were inches away from scoring with our first attack inside a minute. Yusuf Akhamrich broke centrally, slid in Thompson and his drive from the left angle rattled the underside of the crossbar.

Kacey Wooster had a couple of efforts on target without seriously testing Aaron Maguire before a dominant spell brought the opener on 20 minutes. The goal owed much to Rio Kyerematen's burst forward and Williams-Barnett did the rest - touch and finish, driving across Max Thompson into the far corner. The goalkeeper denied namesake Tynan Thompson minutes later and then got his angles right to block Kyerematen's one-on-one chance on 27 minutes.

Newcastle had rarely threatened but drew level on 38 minutes when Alfie Harrison's free-kick found Heffernan free at the far post and the centre-back planted his header back across Maguire and home. Moments later, the same free-kick combination set up another chance, this time Heffernan's header fell to Ross Finneran, his goalbound shot deflected wide.

The second half was one-way traffic in terms of chances created. Goalkeeper Thompson did well to smother at Scarlett's feet in front of goal and then a pass intended for the striker ran into the path of Williams-Barnett, who needed no second invitation to pivot and curl home from 22 yards.

Kyerematen then struck the post from similar range and winger Thompson must have thought it wasn't going to be his day when he cut inside and rattled the underside of the crossbar for the second time.

Scarlett and Williams-Barnett combined again on 75 minutes, Scarlett bundled over this time a couple of yards outside the box, left of centre. He stood over the ball with Williams-Barnett, stepped up and struck a beauty over the wall and home for 3-1.

It was just left to Thompson to get the goal he deserved two minutes later. Williams-Barnett led the break and slid in the winger, who this time chopped inside onto his right foot before lashing home from the edge of the box.

'We deserved to win'

Speaking to us afterwards, Under-21s Coach Wayne said: "I thought we played some good football, got into some good positions, were a bit unfortunate, hit the crossbar, the post as well, but we didn't quite make the final pass or final shot, especially in the first half. I thought we did that much better in the second half. We deserved to win and we looked threatening when we were attacking. We said at half-time we could get up behind the ball a bit better, we were leaving too many spaces and not putting pressure on them well enough and in the second half, we did that much better. As a result of that, we put pressure on them in their half, they struggled to get out and we managed to gain control. I'm so pleased for Dane, he's got such an appetite to play, his work ethic was excellent and I'm pleased he's getting into those positions and scored his goal."

Match data

Goals: Newcastle - Heffernan 38; Spurs – Williams-Barnett 20, 53, Scarlett 76, T Thompson 78.

Yellow cards: Newcastle - Murphy 26; Spurs – Russell-Denny 37, Williams-Barnett 42, Cassanova 87, Rowswell 89.

Referee: Aaron Bannister.

Venue: Whitley Park, Newcastle.

Weather: Clear sky, blustery, 14 degrees.