13 mins: Dalby shot 0-1

Half time: Wrexham 1 Newcastle 0

Full time: Wrexham 1 Newcastle 0

Coming off the bench for his Newcastle debut was 17 year-old midfielder Travis Hernes, recently acquired from Shrewsbury Town. 

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson retained just two of the starting line-up from the side that beat Tranmere Rovers 1-0 at the weekend. Ex-Magpie Ben Tozer started on the bench for the home side alongside Durham-born Elliot Lee, son of SJP old boy Rob Lee.

The other two sides in United's group also met on Tuesday, Port Vale beating Crewe Alexandra 1-0. On loan Magpie Joe White was in the starting line-up for Crewe.

NUFC in the EFL Trophy - all time:

2017/18 Crewe Alexandra won 2-1
2017/18 Port Vale lost 0-1
2017/18 Oldham Athletic lost 1-4
2018/19 Doncaster Rovers won 3-1
2018/19 Notts County won 2-0
2018/19 Grimsby Town won 3-2
2018/19 Macclesfield Town drew 1-1 (won 5-3 pens)*
2018/19 mackems lost 0-4
2019/20 Macclesfield Town lost 1-2
2019/20 Shrewsbury Town lost 0-3
2019/20 Port Vale lost 1-2
2020/21 Shrewsbury Town lost 0-3
2020/21 Crewe Alexandra lost 0-1
2020/21 Bolton Wanderers lost 2-3
2021/22 Sheffield Wednesday lost 0-3
2021/22 Harrogate Town lost 0-2
2021/22 Mansfield Town lost 3-6
2022/23 Doncaster Rovers drew 0-0 (lost 2-4 pens)
2022/23 Barnsley lost 0-2
2022/23 Lincoln City lost 0-2
2023/24 Wrexham lost 0-1

* At SJP, all others were away ties.

unlucky, lads

Conceding an early goal proved costly for Newcastle's U21 side in their EFL Trophy opener against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night.

When 16 year-old goalkeeper Aidan Harris picked the ball out of his net after just 13 minutes of his debut, it looked like a long evening was in store for a Magpies side weakened by injuries and international call-ups.

However a spirited display by the visitors took the game to their League Two hosts and only some miscues in front of goal kept them from levelling.

What proved to be the only goal of the tie was a messy affair; a scramble in the box following an initial block by Harris ending with Sam Dalby firing past two defenders.

In response the Magpies mounted an attack in the 20th minute that ended with Jordan Tunnicliffe illegally halting Ben Parkinson at the cost of a booking.

Ben Dawson's side then came even closer to levelling five minutes later; Dylan Stephenson making a great run and taking a steadying touch before shooting but launching his effort over the Wrexham crossbar. 

Newcastle kept up the pressure and Amadou Diallo saw his effort deflected for a corner before Stephenson did likewise and finally James Huntley directed his header straight at Arthur Okonkwo.

The on-loan goalkeeper from Arsenal was then equal to another attempt from Diallo, before Stephenson tried to lift his effort over Okonkwo but cleared the bar.

Into the second half and there were chances at both ends, Wrexham close to doubling their lead just after the hour when Billy Waters fired over before a free kick from substitute Thomas O'Connor rattled the goalframe.

Substitute Lucas De Bolle linked up with Ben Parkinson in the final minute of added time but Parkinson fired his shot across goal and narrowly wide.

For all their effort though, the visitors were unable to find the goal that would have ensured a share of the points and prompted a penalty shootout. 

Niall MacKenzie