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Two-goal Stanton reflects on five-star showing
Ellis Stanton expressed his delight in netting twice during Newcastle United Under-21s' 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle Blue Star in the Northumberland Senior Cup first round on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old central midfielder opened the scoring within seven minutes of the first round tie at Whitley Park, netting home an impressive drive from the edge of the box before three quick-fire goals in the space of six second half minutes, courtesy of James Huntley, Kyle Crossley and Josh Scott, extended the hosts’ advantage against the current Northern League Division Two leaders.
Stanton added gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages, recording a clinical brace to round off a goal-laden evening on Tyneside, with Newcastle’s youngsters handed a home tie against Bedlington Terriers in the last eight.
The 18-year-old, who joined United’s youth set-up at the age of eight, told nufc.co.uk: “I was very pleased to score two goals and I thought I finished both of my chances very well. I could’ve had another one but I’m still happy with the two!
“It was a big win for the team, especially with how many goals we scored. The message in the dressing room before kick-off was getting an early goal, which we got to start the game well, beginning on the front foot, and we didn’t let them play their own game. It was always ours and that was never going to change. I think it was a good performance.
“It’s massive to win by a big scoreline. We’ve struggled a bit in front of goal, having chances in a lot of games which we should’ve been putting away. Hopefully, we take that into the league going forward."
After missing a large proportion of the 2022/23 campaign due to a meniscus (tearing of the knee) injury, the Farringdon-born teenager was handed a first start at second-string level this season.
The former England Under-16 international, who signed his first professional contract with Newcastle in the summer of 2022, believes the young Magpies can progress far in this year’s Northumberland Senior Cup should they replicate the display shown against Blue Star.
“I was buzzing to get a full 90 minutes under my belt,” Stanton added. "You could probably see in the last ten minutes that I was starting to feel my legs a bit but it now puts me, hopefully, in good stead for another 90 minutes whenever the next game is.
“We want to win the (Senior) cup and I think we can win it if we keep producing performances like we have done tonight, making sure we are playing our own game and not the opponents’."