Beaten in their opening two PL2 games on home territory, Newcastle U21s secured their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City's training ground on Friday afternoon.

Incoming U21 coach Adam Lawrence, who takes up his position next week, was watching from the sidelines at the Knighthead Performance Centre alongside Academy Manager Steve Harper.

Interim coach Robbie Stockdale remained in charge, before moving to assisting Lawrence - his second assistant post at the club after having acted as number two to the now-departed Diarmuid O'Carroll.

Both witnessed an uneventful first 45 minutes and it was goalless at the interval; United forced into an early change when winger Trevan Sanusi limped off through injury.

The deadlock was broken four minutes into the second half when Alfie Harrison's corner from the right was empatically headed home at the near post by Magpies captain, Charlie McArthur.

The hosts equalised in the 58th minute when Daniel Isichei pushed forward to the left hand side of the Newcastle box, Bria Bateman eventually firing in after two goalbound shots were blocked and no visiting player was able to clear.

The final quarter of the game was a far competitive affair; both sides increasing the tempo and United making more headway down the left when Park Seung-soo made way for Joe Brayson.

City then took the lead in the 79th minute when Aurelien Guernier hassled Dylan Charlton into fouling him by the byline, the same player getting up to convert the spot-kick.

The Magpies left with a point however thanks to striker Sean Neave, who hadn't had much sight of goal but latched on to Brayson's defence-splitting pass, calmly rounded the 'keeper and slipped the ball into the net as the 90 minutes were up.

That was Neave's third goal in four league and cup games so far this season and he almost had a fourth during what became nine minutes of time added on, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Originally advertised as a 7pm kick-off at Stratford Town FC, the fixture was switched to at City's training ground in Kings Norton with a week's notice.

Biffa