DeJonge-Seiros and Ajayi hit fine strikes as Man U18 beat Newcastle in fourth straight win

Edson DeJonge-Seiros in the first half and substitute Noah Ajayi hit fine goals as Manchester United Under-18s beat Newcastle United, who started the day top of the Under-18 Premier League North.

Jaume Camacho was the provider on both occasions to secure an important three points for Darren Fletcher’s side.

It was a third successive league victory and fourth win in all competitions for United, moving them up to fourth in the table and ensuring a much happier journey home from the Newcastle United Academy.

The Reds had been beaten 2-0 on their previous visit in May and faced a Newcastle side who had started the new campaign with four consecutive wins, averaging four goals per game.

Fletcher made two changes to the team that started last Saturday’s impressive 5-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

On a breezy early afternoon in the north-east, the game began at a competitive pace, with Newcastle’s Charlie Robinson receiving the first yellow card after just five minutes for a late challenge on Jacob Watson.

Both sides looked to break quickly, but the two defences were largely on top during the opening stages. Robinson and Theo Benjamin both saw efforts blocked in quick succession by Jayden Ngwashi and Watson.

United goalkeeper Charlie Hardy was largely untroubled, while Newcastle's George Mair kept out efforts from distance by Camacho and captain Jay McEvoy.

The Reds gradually increased the pressure and came close when Emmanuel Ziro delivered an excellent cross from the right. Camacho met it with a powerful header from close range, but Mair was equal to it.

United’s pressure finally told in the 36th minute.

Camacho produced an excellent first-time pass forward and DeJonge-Seiros made no mistake, calmly steering a left-footed finish into the bottom corner to put the Reds ahead.

United had controlled much of the first half and went into the interval having enjoyed around 70 per cent possession.

Newcastle made a change at the break, bringing on Thomas Bownes for Benjamin, with Seldon moving further forward in search of a greater attacking threat.

The hosts had the first effort after the restart when Luke Gilligan fired harmlessly over from around 20 yards. Hardy then made his first save of the afternoon, comfortably holding Seldon’s low effort.

Newcastle attempted to press United higher up the pitch, but the Reds continued to enjoy confident spells of possession and looked dangerous when space opened up in the final third.

Ziro came close to doubling the advantage when he sent a cross-cum-shot fizzing across goal following a pass from Camacho, with the ball narrowly missing the far post.

Fletcher turned to his bench on 65 minutes, introducing Jacey Carrick and Ajayi for Helafu and goalscorer DeJonge-Seiros.

Ajayi immediately looked to make an impact, driving down the left before cutting inside, although his low effort was comfortably collected by Mair.

The goalkeeper was briefly given cause for concern at the other end when a Newcastle free-kick caught the wind and forced Hardy to backpedal before he safely plucked the ball out of the air.

United continued to threaten and came close to a second through Camacho and Jariyah Shah, who both fired narrowly wide. Ajayi also tested Mair again at his near post.

The Reds remained disciplined without the ball and restricted Newcastle’s opportunities as the hosts searched for an equaliser.

Then, in the final minute of normal time, Ajayi got the reward his impressive cameo deserved.

Receiving a pass from Camacho, the substitute brilliantly weaved his way through the Newcastle defence before clipping the ball over Mair and into the bottom corner to seal a deserved 2-0 victory.

The result extends United’s winning momentum and moves Fletcher’s side up to fourth in the Under-18 Premier League North.

The Reds will look to make it four league wins in a row when Wolverhampton Wanderers visit Carrington next Saturday, 19 September, with kick-off at 11:30 BST.

Line-up: Hardy; Helafu (Carrick 66), Ngwashi, Laurie, J. Watson (O’Brien 76); Shah, McEvoy (c); Ziro (Brown 76), Camacho, DeJonge-Seiros (Ajayi 65); Mpofu.

Subs not used: Z. Watson, Emsden-James, McLaughlin.

Goals: DeJonge-Seiros 36, Ajayi 90