Amoo Secures Newcastle Draw

Liverpool Reserves claimed their second point of the 2010-11 season as they came from behind twice in an enthralling 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in the North East on Tuesday evening.

Philip Airey put Newcastle ahead on eight minutes when he converted a penalty after being tripped inside the box by Chris Mavinga.

Suso netted an equalizer on his Barclays Premier Reserve League North debut with a thumping drive midway through the first period to spark a spell of real dominance for the Reds.

Samuel Ameobi restored Newcastle's lead near the hour as he prodded the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble.

However, David Amoo found the net via a deflection with just over 10 minutes remaining to secure a well-deserved point for Liverpool.

John McMahon's men travelled to Whitley Park aiming to build on the opening-day point they picked up during last week's goalless stalemate with Wigan Athletic at the Academy.

Spanish teenager Suso, who last week completed a transfer from FC Cadiz on a scholarship agreement, was handed a competitive debut in what was a youthful team selection by the second-string boss.

Also named in his XI were Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Michael Ngoo and Tom Ince, joining the likes of Stephen Darby, Steven Irwin, Amoo and Mavinga.

Meanwhile, there were a couple of familiar faces in former Kop hero Peter Beardsley's Newcastle selection.

Experienced ex-England international Sol Campbell started at the heart of the Magpies' defence, while there was also a place for Greg McDermott - son of iconic 1970s Anfield legend Terry.

The visitors began brightly and Darby brought a good early stop out of Ole Soderberg with a powerful near-post header from Suso's corner that required the Newcastle 'keeper to divert it around the upright.

The Reds had made all the early headway, but Newcastle was awarded a penalty on eight minutes when Mavinga brought down Airey inside the box.

The No.9 dusted himself down and took the spot-kick himself, beating Martin Hansen with a powerfully struck effort into the bottom corner.

Liverpool was visibly shaken by the setback, but they gradually began to find their footing in the contest once more.

On 22 minutes, Suso's dangerous in-swinging free-kick was diverted away from the head of Mavinga by Campbell. From the resulting corner, the Spaniard's enticing delivery was nodded over the bar by the unmarked Amoo.

Then, Suso's clever flick into the path of Ince sent the winger scurrying into the box, only for his control to let him down at a crucial moment.

The 16-year-old was at the heartbeat of every offensive foray by the Reds - and he duly drew McMahon's troop level on 27 minutes.

Collecting the ball midway inside the Newcastle half, Suso motored forward before driving an unstoppable effort into the back of the net from 25 yards, leaving Soderberg grasping air.

The home side's Swedish stopper fared better moments later as he plucked another tantalising set piece by the Spain starlet away from the head of Mavinga inside the six-yard box.

Liverpool were now firmly in the ascendancy and Ngoo was unfortunate not to put them into the lead five minutes before the break when the striker outmuscled Campbell to reach a long-ball forward, only to see his effort from a tight angle repelled by Soderberg.

There was still time for one more attempt from the guests, but Suso flashed well wide after a jinking run as half-time loomed.

Liverpool could not maintain the same intensity in the early stages of the second period as Newcastle made a promising start with Airey drilling into the side netting when well placed.

Nonetheless, a lightening raid forward from the visitors almost paid dividends as Irwin's clever pass released Ince into the left-hand channel of the box, but his low centre agonizingly evaded both Amoo and Ngoo courtesy of a timely deflection.

The livewire wide man then lofted an effort straight into the grateful hands of Soderberg after Ngoo's piercing pass released him into space on the edge of the box.

After their sluggish opening to the second 45, McMahon's side had regained control and Ngoo shaved the base of the post with a curling shot on the hour.

But Liverpool were struck by a sucker punch on 61 minutes as half-time substitute Ameobi bundled the ball over the line after Ryan Donaldson had headed Airey's deep centre into his path six yards out.

After overcoming the setback of falling behind undeservedly for the second time in the contest, the Reds' response saw Irwin sting the palms of Soderberg with a fiercely-struck effort.

And Amoo deservedly equalized for Liverpool on 78 minutes as he powerfully surged onto Irwin's pass into the area and saw a shot deflect off Paul Dummett to find the back of the net.

Robinson could have won it for the the Reds late on, but he drilled straight at Soderberg after collecting Michael Roberts's pass, while Ince was millimetres away from converting Darby's cross at the death.