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Watson Praises Goalscoring Duo
Written by Newcastle Utd
Dave Watson hailed Adam Armstrong and debutant Andy Hall as both bagged braces for the under-18s against Aston Villa
By Paul Reece
Academy coach Dave Watson has praised goalscoring duo Adam Armstrong and Andy Hall after the pair bagged a brace each against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Young Hall scored inside the opening minute of his under-18 debut before adding another after the break, while strike partner Armstrong netted a second-half double.
Watson said: "It was Hall's first game so to score two goals and put in a good performance will give him plenty of confidence going forward now.
"He has always scored at the younger levels and it was just a question of whether he could do it at under-18 level and he has made a great start."
Hall's composed finish opened the scoring at Little Benton yesterday before Villa levelled from the spot in the 13th minute through Jerrell Sellars.
Armstrong fired United back in front just before the hour mark, however, with a fantastic strike from the edge of the Villa box.
"Adam scored a world class goal," said Watson. "He bent one in from 25 yards right into the corner and then battled hard against their defence for his second.
"He chipped it over the 'keeper and scored what turned out to be winning goal and overall his performance was great."
Hall grabbed his second from close range to extend the young Magpies' lead before the Villans again reduced the deficit from the spot.
Under-18 regular Armstrong then grabbed Newcastle's fourth and although Callum Robinson's header again kept Villa in the game, United held on to secure a second win of 2013.
"We did well considering we had a few under-16 lads playing for us - some of the older players had been involved with the reserves on Friday so it was a young side and they did really well," Watson said.
"It was end-to-end stuff, the pitch had water on it and the conditions were not ideal but it turned out to be an exciting game.
"Young Freddie Woodman also did well again and made a couple of good, key saves and Ben Drennan, a 16-year-old in midfield, got through a lot of work and did well."
The win made it two victories from four for United in their second league campaign of the season, with a trip Blackburn Rovers up next on Saturday 16th March.