Thu 27.07.2017:
Celtic U23s 1-2 Newcastle United U23s Toney(58,59)

Waffle:

The Turnbull Ground of non-league Whitby Town was the unlikely setting for the meeting of Newcastle and Celtic's U23 sides on Thursday, both sides showing a welcome competitive edge, making it more than a mere friendly.

The Scottish side were full value for a half time lead, only to lose their way just before the hour when two quick-fire goals from Ivan Toney proved decisive.

A fine night on the North Yorkshire coast saw the two sides trade chances, Victor Fernandez shooting just wide for United and Regan Hendry volleying over.

Newcastle's best chance of the half fell to Callum Roberts after 19 minutes, but Ross Doohan fisted his effort away and the Hoops grew from that point on.

Crossan almost embarrassed former Celt Findlay in the 26th minute but after breaking free couldn't get his effort on target. However, his team mate Joe Thomson had rather better fortune, shooting home from 12 yards on 36 minutes. 

Newcastle had shown slightly more urgency after the interval but with little end product before their 58th minute leveller - a strong run into the Celtic box by Roberts ending with Toney back-heeling the ball in.

And from United's next attack they scored again - although the match officials overlooked a foul in the build-up before Roberts again centred and Tony rammed home his shot to make it 2-1.

Celtic rattled the frame of Paul Woolston's goal in the 68th minute as they tried to force an equaliser, with two fine blocks from the 'keeper keeping his side's slender advantage intact.

The trickery of Aidan Nesbitt down the left was a constant threat for the Scottish side, but some good covering by substitute right back Michael Newberry nullified much of the danger.

A couple of corners and one free kick in added time caused some panic in the United area, but they held firm and avoided the penalty shootout that had looked increasingly likely in the closing minutes.

Victory for United in the first semi-final of this four team tournament ensured United's presence in Saturday night's final against the winners of Friday's semi between the hosts and AZ Alkmaar.

Team: Woolston, Williams (Newberry 50), Cameron, Hunter, O'Connor, Findlay, El-Mhanni (Charman 76), Barlaser, Toney (Gallacher 80), Roberts (Watts 69), Fernandez (C.Smith 65).
Subs n/u: Bailey, Harker, Yarney, Aziakonou, Sangare, Kitchen.

Booked: Roberts, Williams.

GCFC: Doohan, Wardrop, Bell, Deas, Duffy, McInroy, Hendry, Thomson, Crossan, Henderson, Nesbitt.
Subs (usage tbc): Potter, Mullen, Welsh, Campbell, Diver, Watson, McLaughlin.

Referee: Braeden Krampert

Crowd: 829.

Fri 28.07.2017:
(Whitby Town XI 1-1 AZ Alkmaar U23s [2-4 on pens])

Sat 29.07.2017:
(Whitby Town 0-2 Celtic U23s)

Newcastle United U23s 4-1 AZ Alkmaar U23s, 5.30pm Toney(5,38,71pen), Sangare(90+1)

Waffle:

The U23s lifted the Whitby Town Challenge Cup on Saturday night, following their deserved success against AZ Alkmaar at the Turnbull Ground. Peter Beardsley's side had an extra 24 hours to prepare, while the Dutch had been in action the previous night.

Following his double against Celtic U23s, Ivan Toney bagged another brace as United opened up a two goal lead - the first coming when the AZ goalkeeper's clearance fell straight to the Magpies striker, who made no mistake.

And it was Toney who doubled the lead on 38 minutes, collecting a centre from Callum Roberts before taking the ball round the goalkeeper and knocking it home. 

AZ did get one back through El Hasnaoui and looked threatening in the run up to half time, the same player putting another chance just wide in the closing seconds.   

After Roberts struck the woodwork on the hour mark Toney duly completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 71st minute after Luke Charman was fouled in the box.

That made it 3-1 and saw Toney replaced. Mo Sangare then got United's fourth in added time when he turned in Callum Smith's centre.

Team: Harker, Newberry, Cameron (Kitchen 78), Hunter (Sangare 69), Yarney, Gillesphey, Charman (Bailey 81), Barlaser (Williams 69), Toney (Gallacher 74), Roberts (El-Mhanni 69), Fernandez (C.Smith 47). Subs n/u: Woolston, O'Connor, Aziakonou, Watts.

Booked: Newberry.

AZ: Bucker, Groot, Hatzidiakos, Bakker, Kramer, Hoedemakers, El Hasnaoui, Einarsson, Druijf, Jacobs, Jonsson.
Subs (usage tbc): Church, Jacobs, Muhl, Schendelaar, Van Der Wacht, Kurban, Kaandorp, Hardijk, Koreniuk. 

Referee: Jose Luis Lopez

Crowd: 332

Silverware!

Pre-season pitch time (in minutes):

Thomas Allen 0+0+24=24
Yannick Aziakonou 0+0+90+0+0=90
Owen Bailey 0+24+56+0+9=89
Dan Barlaser 45+66+0+90+69=270
Tyrique Bartlett 0+0+34=34
Kyle Cameron 45+33+0+90+78=246
Luke Charman 45+33+0+14+81=173
Juan Cumbreras (aka Juanito) 45+0+34=79
Yasin Ben El-Mhanni 45+66+0+76+21=208
Victor Fernandez 0+45+0+65+47=157
Stuart Findlay 45+57+0+90=192
Owen Gallacher 45+0+56+10+16=127
Isaac Gamblin 0+0+34=34
Macaulay Gillesphey 45+57+0+90=192
Curtis Good 45+45+0=90
Mace Goodridge 0+0+34=34
Nathan Harker 45+70+90+0+90=295
Mackenzie Heaney 0+0+56=56
Jack Hunter 45+66+0+90+69=270
Otto Huuhtanen 45+20+0=65
Ben Kitchen 45+0+66+0+12=123
Olly Long 0+0+34=34
Sean Longstaff 45+0+0=45
Lewis McNall 0+24+56=80
Michael Newberry 45+33+0+40+90=208
Stefan O'Connor 45+45+0+90+0=180
Callum Roberts 0+0+0+69+69=138
Kurtis Russell 0+0+34=34
Mo Sangare 0+24+56+0+11=91
Callum Smith 45+0+56+25+43=169
Liam Smith 45+57+0=102
Elias Sorensen 0+0+24=24
Craig Spooner 0+24+66=90
Ivan Toney 45+66+0+80+74=265
Dan Ward 45+45+0=90
Kelland Watts 0+0+90+21+0=111
Callum Williams 45+57+0+50+21=173
Paul Woolston 0+0+0+90+0=90
Yosef Yarney 45+33+0+0+90=168