We booked our place in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup after edging out Newcastle United in a five-goal thriller at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Substitute Osman Kamara popped up with an 87th minute winner to secure the win, after the Magpies had twice pegged us back during an enthralling cup tie.
In the midst of freezing temperatures on Tyneside, we started the game well and were inches away from taking the lead through Amario Cozier-Duberry, but he curled his effort inches past the post.
Just a few moments later, Cozier-Duberry, who looked sharp all night down the right wing, cut inside once again, but his effort only found the side netting.
We got our deserved opener after just 14 minutes when Seb Ferdinand poked home the rebound from close range following more exciting work from Cozier-Duberry.
However, our lead only lasted four minutes as Lewis Miley got in behind our defence and fired past Noah Cooper in goal.
From a comfortable first 20 minutes, the hosts slowly worked their way back into the game and had a couple of chances on the counter-attack but Cooper was equal to their efforts.
We retook the lead just before half-time through Cozier-Duberry’s deflected strike - a fitting end to what was an outstanding first half from our winger.
After the restart, we had an early chance to score our third, but Omari Benjamin’s header failed to test Aidan Harris in the Newcastle goal.
The hosts drew level for the second time in the match when Ben Parkinson snuck in behind our backline and poked home from close range.
Just past the hour mark, we went close to retaking the lead through Jimi Gower, but he diverted his header just shy of the far post after an impressive run from Ferdinand.
As we approached the closing stages, Jack Wilshere turned to his bench and brought on Kamara who repaid the faith shown in him by making an immediate impact.
Kamara was only on the pitch for three minutes before he fired home his dramatic late winner, from Ferdinand’s dazzling wing play, to set up a fifth-round tie with our neighbours Watford.
WHAT IT MEANS
We progress through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, where we will face Watford.
No date or venue has been confirmed for our fixture as it stands, however, all fifth round ties are scheduled to be completed by Saturday, February 11.
WHAT'S NEXT
We're back in Under-18 Premier League action next, when we host Fulham on Saturday, January 28.
Kick-off at London Colney is 11am (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
Starting XI: Cooper, Rosiak, Walters, Quamina, Sousa, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Gower (Robinson, 89), Cozier-Duberry, Ferdinand, Benjamin (Kamara, 83)
Subs not used: Okonkwo, Brown, Nichols, Oulad M'Hand, Dudziak
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