Newcastle United Under-21s 2 Everton Under-21s 2 | OneFootball

The young Magpies, targeting a third consecutive league win on home soil, fell behind in the first-half at Whitley Park following Omari Benjamin's scrappy close-range finish before Martin Sherif's penalty doubled the Toffees' advantage shortly after the restart.

United's youngsters, though, fought back in valiant fashion as two goals in the space of six minutes courtesy of efforts from Johnny Emerson and Ellis Stanton, their first league goals at second-string level, secured a commendable point for Diarmuid O'Carroll's side.

Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris, who signed his first professional contract with United last summer, produced a key block to prevent Coby Ebere as the 18-year-old blocked the left winger's shot from a tight angle.

In the 22nd minute, Newcastle suffered a tough blow as Benjamin opened the scoring for the visitors. After Martin Sherif steered the ball into the six-yard area, the United defence were unable to clear the loose ball to safety before Benjamin was on hand to stab the ball home from close-range.

Alfie Harrison and Garang Kuol, both on target in the young Magpies' National League Cup win against Gateshead last week, combined neatly before the former's fizzing low pass flew across the box, evading a number of bodies inside the penalty area.

Cathal Heffernan, who joined United in the summer of 2023 following his departure from Italian giants AC Milan, produced a heroic block to allow Ebere's shot fly towards goal as the Irish defender, a representative of Republic of Ireland at under-19 level, turned away the Toffee forward's fierce strike with his head.

Harris was forced into a save within the opening minute of the restart as the Houghton-le-Spring-born shot-stopper pushed away Roman Dixon's low drive after a lengthy run from distance by the Everton full-back.

However, in the 52nd minute, Newcastle's goal deficit increased as Sherif netted from the penalty spot. After Benjamin was tripped inside the box by Magpies midfielder Scott Bailey, Sherif placed his attempt from 12 yards into the bottom right-hand corner.

Anthony Munda almost made a positive impact from the substitutes' bench as the Cowgate-born midfielder, another to sign his first professional contract last summer, latched onto Dylan Charlton's throw-in from the left flank before his low drive was held by Everton goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley.

Harris made an important stop shortly as Isaac Heath's in-swinging cross was headed towards goal by Aled Thomas but the alert Newcastle goalkeeper sprung down low to hold the centre-back's attempt at goal.

In the 74th minute, Newcastle halved the deficit through Emerson as the Carlisle-born winger, a representative of Scotland at under-19 level, latched onto Harrison's delightful pass before calmly slotting the ball into the net, recording his first Premier League 2 goal in the process.

United's second-string equalised six minutes later courtesy of Stanton's ferocious drive, controlling Matheos Ferreira's pass before arrowing a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom left-hand corner.

With the full-time whistle approaching, Harrison was unfortunate not to complete an impressive comeback as the Keighley-born youngster picked up a loose ball inside the box before the attacking midfielder's strike from a tight angle was pushed out for a corner by Barnsley.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Rory Powell, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ciaran Thompson, Dylan Charlton, Scott Bailey (Anthony Munda 55), Ellis Stanton, Darren Palmer (Joe Brayson 55), Alfie Harrison, Johnny Emerson, Garang Kuol (Matheos Ferreira 70).

Subs not used: Logan Watts, James Taylor.