Newcastle under-21s win penalty bonus in Valley Parade draw

(Newcastle win 4-3 on pens)

THE new season is only a month old but already City have been put through the penalty wringer twice.

The second shoot-out against Newcastle’s youngsters at Valley Parade went the same way as it had at Grimsby with the Bantams edged out.

They got one point from their opening Bristol Street Motors Trophy group tie but the young Toon bagged the bonus.

Newcastle fan Andy Cook’s penalty was saved by Aidan Harris, who had also denied Alex Pattison after Colin Doyle had made the opening block of the shoot-out.

Cook’s third goal of the infant campaign on the back of Olly Sanderson’s second in as many games looked to have completed a comeback win over the plucky visitors.

But Newcastle scrambled an ugly equaliser in stoppage time and won 4-3 on penalties.

Viewed by many as the poor relation of knock-out competitions, a run in the Trophy can be a nice cash boost.

The Bantams collected £140,000 last season from reaching the semi-finals – the furthest the club have ever gone.

But they were thwarted the £10,000 prize on offer for a victory in the group stages. Further clashes with League One duo Mansfield and Rotherham await.

Graham Alexander had promised changes and only three starters remained from the Grimsby game – skipper Richie Smallwood, Brad Halliday and Neill Byrne.

Halliday was withdrawn in a quadruple sub on 64 minutes for Jay Benn, one of three debutants on the night.

Cheick Diabate, beginning his audition to replace the injured Aden Baldwin, and Joe Adams were in the revamped 11 – which also included a forward role for Jamie Walker alongside Olly Sanderson.

Tyler Smith had to wait until the 82nd minute for his chance as the final sub called from the bench – showing how he has slipped down the pecking order right now. He did at least tuck away his penalty.

Colin Doyle warming up before his return to the City goal (Image: Tom Pearson)

City pinned the young visitors in their own half in the opening exchanges. Walker was okay despite a clash of heads with Ciaran Thompson as play centred around the Newcastle box.

Smallwood’s passes created a couple of potential openings but Jack Shepherd’s header wide from the captain’s corner was the first hint of a chance.

It felt like a training exercise with Newcastle finding it hard to get a foot in.

But they almost stole into the lead from their opening attack on 18 minutes. The ball was worked to Alfie Harrison 25 yards out with room to unleash a low drive that fizzed past the diving Colin Doyle and against the far post.

It would have been a special moment for the young lad from Crossflatts, who used to play for Bingley Juniors.

That was a warning for City to do more with all their possession – and they nearly did as Sanderson flashed a header just wide from Smallwood’s cross.

Adams and Clarke Oduor, playing as the eights, prompted and probed and the Wigan man almost sneaked onto the end of Smallwood’s deep cross.

But Newcastle were doing a good job in shutting down any shooting opportunities. Keeper Aidan Harris remained well protected.

Again, it was Newcastle who created a proper opening as Anthony Munda’s effort was well beaten away by Doyle.

But the visitors got it right the third time as half-time approached. Johnny Emerson had the space on the left to line up a cross which Ben Parkinson converted with a precise finish.

City were stung into an immediate response to level three minutes later. Sanderson pushed to the edge of the box where his clean strike flew past Harris.

The striker thought he had struck again right on the break when he powered home Brad Halliday’s cross – but it was ruled out for a push on Cathal Heffernan.

Sanderson was getting a taste for it and fired over the bar to start the second half. But Newcastle were still a threat when they broke quickly and Jay Turner-Cooke scuffed at a decent opportunity.

Walker was trying to get more into it and fizzed one effort wide before warming Harris’ hands at the near post.

Olly Sanderson unleashes City's first-half equaliser (Image: Tom Pearson)

Alexander shuffled his pack just after the hour with Cook among the arrivals from the bench.

But Newcastle threatened again as Turner-Cooke’s goal-bound volley deflected away off Shepherd’s head.

It was Cook though who inevitably ended the stalemate with 15 minutes left – courtesy of a peach of an assist from fellow sub Benn.

He measured a low cross into the six-yard box where the number nine had the easy task of tapping home.

Harris turned away another Walker shot from distance before the contest went into seven added minutes.

Newcastle grabbed that lifeline to claim a pinball equaliser after Lewis Richards gave away a foul to the side of the box, Turner-Cooke’s low free-kick deflecting past Doyle via a combination of Walker and Josh Donaldson's thigh.

City’s veteran keeper, playing his first game since the semi-final agony against Wycombe, handed his team the advantage in the shoot-out when he saved from Ellis Stanton.

But Pattison and Cook came up short against Harris to give the Premier League young guns the added point for their efforts.