23 mins Miele shot 1-0

43 mins Odelusi shot 1-1

Half time: Magpies 1 Trotters 1

62 mins Blakeman penalty 1-2

Full time: Magpies 1 Trotters 2

Waffle

Despite suffering their first defeat in eleven games, United reserves held on to top spot in Group Two of the Premier U21 League and lined up an elimination match against Everton next week.

The Toffees topped Group One and United now travel to Goodison on Tuesday evening for a one-off game that will decide which side advances to the end of season playoffs and a semi-final visit to White Hart Lane to face Elite Champions Spurs. 

Bolton ran out at a blustery Whitley Park knowing that their own chances of qualifying ahead of the hosts rested on achieving a seven goal swing and they made a bright start, dominating the early exchanges.

However the first noteworthy chance of the evening fell to Newcastle, with fine linkup play down the right flank between Kevin Mbabu and Rolando Aarons opening up a chance for Brandon Miele to blast against the crossbar.

The Republic of Ireland youth international midfielder made no mistake on 23 minutes, thumping his long range effort beyond Rob Lainton into the top corner of the net.

United then came close to extending their lead on 35 minutes when Gael Bigirimana - playing as a central defender - hit the post with a swerving free-kick.

The visitors levelled just before the break, when home 'keeper Jonathan Mitchell parried a right wing cross from Joe McKee into the path of Sanmi Odelusi who finished from close range.

There was little to keep the crowd warm though as the temperature dropped in a mundane second half, with Newcastle defender Macaulay Gillesphey coming off the bench for his reserve team debut - a replacement that saw Bigirimana revert to his more usual midfield role. 

Bolton went ahead just past the hour mark, when Odelusi forced his way into the United box before his progress was halted illegally by Mbabu. Colliding with the advancing Mitchell, the Trotters striker received treatment before Adam Blakeman drove home the resultant spot kick.

And with only the occasional wayward long-range effort from either home side worthy of note, there was no further scoring - confirming Newcastle's progression.

They now face an Everton side who have recorded three successive scoreless draws and are currently on a run of fifteen matches without defeat that began in November.

Whoever wins that tie will play a one-off semi-final away to Elite Group Champions Spurs, with Manchester United and Liverpool contesting the other semi-final. 

U21 Premier League Group Two: 

Remaining fixture:

Tue 07.05.2013:
Stoke City v Crystal Palace (11am)

Biffa

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