Southampton U18s 2 Newcastle United U18s 2
- Attendance:
- 0
- Referee:
- Matthew Lee
Kelland Watts' goal earns Magpies a point
The Magpies took an 11th minute lead at the Saints' Staplewood Football Development & Support Centre through skipper Mackenzie Heaney.
The England under-17 international - recently back from a shoulder injury - curled a 20-yard free-kick beyond Adam Parkes.
But, following a spell of sustained pressure from the home side, Callum Slattery levelled from the penalty spot in the 38th minute, although Otto Huuhtanen dived the right way.
Then two minutes later, a trialist scored a fine individual goal to give the Saints a half-time lead.
But United came out fighting at the beginning of the second period and quickly levelled through Watts, who was playing in an unfamiliar position as a central striker.
He received a pass from Callum Smith and drilled the ball home.
With the final kick of the game, Southampton almost grabbed a dramatic winner but Huuhtanen saved Will Smallbone's long-range effort before substitute Jonathan Afolabi fired over from the rebound.
Newcastle have now won one, drawn one and lost one of their three Under-18 Premier League group three play-off matches.
Newcastle United Under-18s: Otto Huuhtanen, Craig Spooner, Gideon Adu-Peprah, Matthew Longstaff, Ben Kitchen, Lewis Gibson, Owen Gallacher, Daniel Lowther (Elias Sorensen 68), Kelland Watts, Mackenzie Heaney, Callum Smith.
Subs not used: Yannick Aziakonou, Mo Sangare, Jack Robson.