By Craig Hope
ALAN Thompson has praised teenage striker Nile Ranger for having the character to bounce back from a penalty miss as he netted his first of the season during Newcastle United Reserves' 3-2 defeat at Leeds United.
The Magpies were already trailing to Enoch Showunmi's 5th-minute opener when Ranger saw his spot-kick kept out by Ryan Jones.
United then found themselves 3-0 down going into the final 25 minutes when Ryan Donaldson swept home to renew hope.
And Ranger reduced arrears further when he got on the end of Stephen Folan's centre to volley past Jones just moments later.
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But, sadly for Tommo's spirited youngsters, a deserved leveller failed to materialise despite prolonged spells of heavy pressure.
The Geordie coach, though, was delighted with the attitude of his battlers, and gave credit to Ranger for showing the determination to make amends for his penalty despair.
"We were up against a very experienced Leeds side out there and some of their players have played three or four hundred career games," said the former Leeds skipper.
"But we handled ourselves well and it was disappointing to be trailing by three goals.
"Credit to the lads, though, they refused to give in and did brilliantly to get back into it - on another night we would get a draw and maybe even a win.
"I was delighted with them during the final half hour and we deserved something from the game.
"The two goals were both well taken and I was pleased for Nile. It's his first of the season and he's shown good charcater to stick at his game after the penalty miss.
"Of course we're disappointed to lose, but if ever you can take a lot of positives from a defeat then it was from this game."
