Following victory at Halifax in their National League Cup opener a month earlier, the U21s broke new ground on Tuesday as they debuted at The Lamb - home of Tamworth for the last 90 years.

The Lambs were fresh from their FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town here four nights earlier, but attracted less than 400 fans compared to the 3,500+ present for their giant-killing on live TV - a reflection of the dislike for this cobbled-together competition among National League diehards.

Tamworth retained just three of the starting line-up that had beaten League One opposition against Newcastle, with occasional long-range throw-ins from Friday's match-winner Tom Tonk their main supply route for mounting attacks.

The white-clad visitors meanwhile quickly adjusted to the artificial surface which had absorbed light rain before kick-off and dominated possession with their passing game. 

The first chance went to Newcastle in the sixth minute when Charlie McArthur met Leo Shahar's free-kick from the right but volleyed his first-time effort over the bar.

A measure of United's superiority came when they forced five successive corners midway through the first half, resulting in two opportunities that were blocked by a mass of bodies in the six yard box.

Playing only his second U21 game since returning from injury, Garang Kuol began to threaten down the left wing with Trevan Sanusi tormenting Tamworth on the opposite flank; cutting infield on to his stronger left foot and threatening to open up the home defence on multiple occasions.

The away goal that seemed inevitable frustratingly failed to arrive by the interval however, despite several more corner kicks and some good touches in midfield from the impressive Travis Hernes. Had that domination turned into goals, then our slaughtered Lambs headline may have appeared... 

Making a trio of changes at half time, the hosts quickly became more threatening against a visiting defence for whom Shahar had moved from right back to left back in place of Alex Murphy - midfielder Ellis Stanton coming off the bench to cover on the right. 

A change for Newcastle then quickly paid dividends; Kuol upended to the left of the Tamworth box by Zach McKenzie and Jay Turner-Cooke's tempting free kick poked in at the near post by fellow substitute Josh Donaldson.

Toon replacements Johnny Emerson and James Huntley then both came close to extending their side's lead, while Tamworth continued to look dangerous when they worked the ball upfield but couldn't reach goalkeeper Aidan Harris with anything other than trundling efforts.

Home substitute Nathan Tshikuna then powered home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box with six minutes of normal time to equalise and raise the prospect of a penalty shootout.  

Turner-Cooke almost restored the lead immediately with a lob that was saved and Donaldson was unmarked but unable keep his header on target from Ben Parkinson's right wing cross. 

Five minutes of additional time brought no further scoring and it finished 1-1, with both sides taking a point and prompting the penalty shootout with a bonus point for the victors.

First up was Parkinson, who had missed his most recent U21 spot kick (in the EFL Trophy at Mansfield Town) but made no mistake this time round. 

The next two kicks were both missed, before a run of ten successes made the score 6-5 to Newcastle, Kai Williams then striking the crossbar with his effort to win it for the visitors.

Five points from their opening two games leaves Diarmuid O'Carroll's side top of the table at the halfway point in the group stage, ahead of visits to Boston United and Gateshead. 

Biffa