Cullen’s double draws Vale over Toon EFL effort
PORT VALE 2 NEWCASTLE UTD UNDER-21S 1
NEWCASTLE United Under-21s bowed out of this season’s EFL Trophy with an unlucky defeat at the hands of League Two Port Vale.
On a night that saw 23 Geordie fans turn out at Vale Park to watch the club’s second string play out a dead rubber tie, they can at least claim they were there to see Toon youngster Elliot Anderson score his first competitive goal.
But it was Northumbrian centreforward Mark Cullen – let go by United’s Academy in 2006 – who piled on the agony for United’s second string with a double that helped Port Vale top Group D.
Despite their efforts in the competition, they got no points on the board this season.
United were handed an early chance in front of goal as Elliot Anderson broke into the box but his attempted shot was cleared by Kieran Kennedy.
On 13 minutes, Jack Young had a go from outside the area but his shot was tipped away by Vale stopper Jonny Maddison.
With 25 minutes gone, Port Vale had a great chance but Geordie boy Mark Cullen – a former Toon youth player – blazed over the bar.
Cullen went up for a header on 33 minutes after a right-wing cross but United scrambled the ball away to safety.
The Ashington-born striker did get his goal five minutes before halftime after following up Jordan Archer’s effort from long range.
Newcastle had switched off to allow Archer to get his shot in with Jake Turner blocking the ball but Cullen sprinted in to cash in on the rebound.
It was a goal that had been coming from a Vale point of view, but the young Magpies should have been level at the break.
Anderson played the ball through for Allan for a one-on-one with the Toon winger, leaving the Vale defence for dead but he struck the ball straight at the keeper.
But controversy followed after the break when Rhys Browne looked to have doubled the Port Vale lead with a deft lob over Turner.
With the former Charlton Athletic man running away in celebration, he looked back in horror to see the officials deem the ball had not crossed the line and waved play on. To compound the home team’s misery, Newcastle scored with their next attack.
Sterry clipped in a fine cross from the right and North Shields youngster Anderson powered home a close-range header to score his first goal for the Under-21s.
United keeper Turner then made a fine stop just before the hour mark to deny Dan Trickett-Smith when tipping a goal-bound header over the top.
In response, Sterry rushed forward and tried an ambitious effort from 30 yards with Maddison pushing the ball away for a corner.
Dawson made a change with 24 minutes to go when he introduced Rosaire Longelo for Kyle Scott as Newcastle looked to win the game.
With 10 minutes remaining, Port Vale were handed a great chance with a free-kick from just outside the D but Trickett-Smith curled the ball over.
Cullen struck again on 87 minutes after being played through and racing towards goal, forcing Turner to rush out.
The former Blackpool man rounded the Toon keeper and slotted into the empty net to grab his second of the night after being played in by Jake Taylor.
In the 90th minute, Allan broke down the right and cut the ball across for Sterry could only hit the top of the stand.
Newcastle pushed for a second equaliser in stoppage time but couldn’t force a penalty shoot-out.
UNITED: Turner, Sterry, Cass, Francillette, Walters, Young, Sangare, Allan, K Scott (Longelo 66), Anderson (J Scott 84), Charman. Not used: Fernandez, Wilson, Langley, Gamblin, Reed.
PORT VALE: Maddison, Kennedy, Conlon (Taylor 61), Atkinson, Cullen, Browne, Evans, Lloyd, Trickett-Smith, Brisley, Archer (Burgess 65). Ref: Paul Marsden. Att: 571 (23 Newcastle).