ROBBIE SIMPSON struck twice – but two goals in the final four minutes condemned Town reserves to a 4-2 home defeat by Newcastle.
Dutch midfielder Frank Danquah’s deflected 87th-minute shot and French striker Wesley Ngo Baheng’s simple 90th-minute finish after a wayward Simpson backpass denied Town a point from last night’s totesport.com League East Division clash.
The home side had twice led, with Simpson opening the scoring confidently in the 19th minute, taking just one touch to control Jimmy Spencer’s pass before shooting past Swedish stopper Ole Soderberg.
The former Coventry frontman’s second came a minute into the second half, when he netted from 25 yards.
It heralded a bright spell by Town, who could have extended their lead through Jim Goodwin, who shot over from Spencer’s lay-off, and Michael Collins, whose header was well saved.
But Newcastle, having levelled in the 32nd minute with a close-range shot by midfielder Greg McDermott, son of Town assistant manager Terry, chalked up their second equaliser on 52 minutes, when the lively Baheng latched onto Australian midfielder Bradden Inman’s pass and rolled the ball neatly past the helpless Matt Glennon.
The defeat was tough on Town, who created a string of chances, with Robbie Williams, playing on the left side of midfield,
hitting the angle in the 10th minute before James Berrett, in at right-back, tested Soderberg just before half-time.
Later in the game, Jack Hunt and Liam Ridehalgh were both denied.
Town left out striker Lee Novak as a precaution after he took a kick to the knee in training, but are confident he will be available for Saturday’s League I trip to Millwall.
Town: Glennon, Berrett, Ridehalgh, Collins, Franks, Harris, Hunt (Watson, 69mins), Goodwin, Spencer, Simpson, Williams (Chippendale, 73mins). Subs not used: Field, Nightingale, Allinson.
