With a victory and a defeat from their opening two group stage games in the Premier League Cup, Newcastle U23s were forced to settle for a point at a chilly Sands Venue Stadium on Friday night

Having recovered from going behind early on, the black and whites led 3-1 thanks to goals from Elliot Anderson and two from Tom Allan going into the closing ten minutes of play.

However, having used all three subs they then lost the services of defender Oliver Walters due to injury and were reduced to ten men - George Miller striking twice to force a draw for his side and complete a hat-trick.

The Iron took a ninth minute lead when a simple forward ball from Lewis Butroid on the left allowed Miller to run clear and side-foot past goalkeeper Dan Langley.

And they came close to doubling that lead five minutes later, Ryan Colclough cutting inside from the right flank and firing against the crossbar - John McAtee thankfully unable to control the rebound.

At the other end, Lewis Cass tested home custodian Adam Kelsey in the 17th minute, following good work from visiting captain, Allan. However, Kelsey was unable to prevent the Magpies from levelling on 21 minutes, pushing away another Cass effort and when a defender half-cleared, Anderson calmly netted his third goal in just four games.

Newcastle came close to going ahead eight minutes before the break when Allan was clean through on goal after a defender slipped. However, he opted to play in Cass, only for the ball to elude him.
Within 30 seconds though Allan had another sight of goal and this time raced forward and finished.

Newcastle opened up a two goal advantage within three minutes of the restart, Anderson releasing Rosaire Longelo down the left and his low centre was diverted in from eight yards by Allan for his seventh of the season.

Scunthorpe weren't finished however and Colclough was denied by the goal frame for the second time in the game soon after, his dipping curler from the right hitting off the angle of Langley's post and crossbar.

Visiting coach Ben Dawson used his three permitted replacements during the second half but within ten minutes of the third one appearing, Walters limped off with an injury leaving United a man short.

And they were punished almost immediately for that numerical disadvantage; a free kick into the box headed back across goal for Miller to force in from point-blank range and make it 2-3.

Referee, David Richardson added an additional five minutes and in the first of those Miller completed his hat-trick in similar style to his second goal.   

Niall MacKenzie