Newport County under-18s suffered their first home defeat of the EFL Youth Alliance season in a 3-2 loss to Sutton United on Saturday.
Goals from Moses Alexander-Walker and Cory Evans had brought County level after falling behind early on, before the visitors clinched all three points in stoppage time – maintaining their undefeated start to the season in the process.
Sutton opened the scoring inside two minutes when James Fennelow’s low shot fell at the feet of Ned Hepburn, who converted from close range.
County looked to respond immediately through Riley Lonergan but the midfielder couldn’t keep a rasping effort down.
The momentum swayed back in Sutton’s favour shortly after when they were awarded a penalty kick. Armani Babah was adjudged to have fouled George Vorster as the United full-back looked to get a cross in and Fennelow stepped up to double the visitors’ lead from twelve yards.
Newport once again found themselves searching for a response and it looked most likely to come through Jaden Bahumaid. The winger’s tricky run through the Sutton defence earned his side a free kick and Cory Evans produced the host’s first meaningful effort from the set-piece, only to see his strike held well by Charlie Fletcher in the Sutton goal.
Fletcher was called back into action just minutes later when Lonergan tried his luck from distance again, forcing the ‘keeper into a spectacular save to preserve his side’s two-goal lead.
After a frantic start, County looked to settle into the game and took control of proceedings. They would deservedly pull a goal back five minutes before half-time, when Cory Evans’ pinpoint through-ball put Moses Alexander-Walker through on goal and the winger finished emphatically to reduce the deficit to one goal.
Evans could’ve had a goal of his own just moments later when he found himself in behind the Sutton defence, only for his shot crash against the post. Alexander-Walker arrived on the rebound but his effort was well-blocked.
Half-Time
The first chance of the second half went Newport’s way but Dan Barton’s curling free kick flew just over the crossbar.
County didn’t stop there and came close to an equaliser shortly after when Cam Egan worked an opening on the edge of the Sutton area, only to see his effort slide just past the post.
The chances kept coming for the hosts and they came close again shortly after. Alexander-Walker broke free from a number of United challenges, charged forward from inside his own half and delivered a dangerous cross into the area which was steered just over by Egan.
The Exiles thought that they had drawn level after 70 minutes when substitute Rhys Barrett capitalised on a goalkeeping error to prod home, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
They would, however, find their deserved equaliser fifteen minutes from time when Cory Evans finished neatly into the far corner from the edge of the box having been picked out by Barrett.
Alexander-Walker came agonisingly close to scoring his second, and County’s third, at the beginning of stoppage time. The winger danced past a number of Sutton defenders and managed to get a shot away but dragged the ball wide of the far post.
It took some heroic goalkeeping from Charlie Fletcher to deny County a winner in the final moments of the game, denying Orphee Bony from close range before the striker had a follow-up effort acrobatically cleared off the line.
It would be heartbreak for the young County side, though, as Sutton clinched all three points at the death. Dan Urpens rose highest at a corner to power home and ensure that the spoils would head back to South London.
Full Time
Newport County under-18s return to action next Saturday, when they host Exeter City in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup.
Newport County: Hopkins, Watkins, Babah, Barton ©, Sanca, Lloyd, Alexander-Walker, Lonergan (Shephard 73’), Egan (Bony 60’), Evans, Bahumaid (Barrett 60’).
Unused subs: Davidson, Needham
Sutton United: Fletcher, Urpens, Jamieson (Lee 50’), Reeves, Edwards (Sheargold 55’), Vorster (Lowe 65’), Moore ©, Bell, Hepburn, Tume, Fennelow (Trickett 60’).
Unused substitutes: Morgan
