Royals take home a point from the North East in Premier League 2 opener
Reading U23s came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United on the opening evening of their Premier League 2 campaign at Whitley Park.
Our Tyneside hosts had taken the lead in the first-half, but when presented with the opportunity, forward Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan dispatched from the penalty spot to help his side get up and running for the season.
Newcastle started the brighter of the two teams, but Royals stopper Coniah Boyce-Clarke stood tall to block Adam Wilson's strike on 21 minutes, after he latched on to a Joe White ball.
However just seven minutes later, the deadlock was broken by the Magpies, as Rodrigo Vilca threaded a pass into the path of Dylan Stephenson, who was able to slot into the bottom left corner beyond the reach of Boyce-Clarke.
Half-time: Newcastle United U23 1-0 Reading U23
After an evenly contested first half-hour following the restart, Claudio Osorio was brought down inside the area by Remi Savage. The man who committed the challenge wasn't sent off, but Tom Allan did recieve a second yellow in the aftermath, as the hosts were reduced to ten men.
Up stepped Ehibhatiomhan, who came in to start for Mehmet Ali's side having spent a large chunk of pre-season with the first team, and he confidently placed his penalty past Max Thompson to bring the Royals back on terms.
With a man advantage, Reading pushed for a winner throughout the final ten minutes, but the Magpies managed to hold on to their point in the North East.
Full-time: Newcastle United U23 1-0 Reading U23
Next up for our U23s is their first home game of the season, for which they'll take centre stage at the Select Car Leasing Stadium when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 on Monday 23 August (7pm kick-off).
Newcastle United U23: Thompson, McEntee (C), Bondswell, Brookwell, Wiggett, Savage, Allan, White, Stephenson, Wilson, Vilca.
Subs: Brown, Cross, Barrett, Longelo, Ferguson
Yellow: Allan, White
Red: Allan 76'
Scorer: Stephenson 28'
Reading U23: Boyce-Clarke, Ashcroft, Samuels, Stickland (C), Holzman, Talent-Aryeetey, Sackey, Osorio, Leavy (Camara 46'), Maudner (Abdul-Salam 73'), Ehibhatiomhan.
Unused subs: Collins, Purcell, Abrafa, Abdul-Salam, Camara
Yellow: Stickland, Talent-Aryeetey
Scorer: Ehibhatiomhan 78'
Photography: Serena Taylor (Newcastle United)