Woolston's Wimbledon Woe

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

Paul Woolston felt Newcastle didn't get the rub of the green in Wednesday night's FA Youth Cup fourth round defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

The England under-18 international goalkeeper admitted that the Wombles edged the first half at St. James' Park, but insisted that Dave Watson's side had enough chances after the break to go through.

United - who were without key players Dan Ward, Jack Hunter and Michael Newberry due to injury - fell behind to an Alfie Egan goal in the 32nd minute but levelled inside the opening minute of the second half through Lewis McNall's third goal of the competition.

However, Egan headed home a late winner for the Dons to knock the young Magpies out of the tournament.

"We did build on (McNall's equaliser) - it was just that the chances didn't fall for us," Woolston told nufc.co.uk.

"Cal (Smith) nearly scored at the end; we had chances like that which maybe on a different day go in the net and we come away with a win and go through to the next round.

"But I think they (Wimbledon) did well. They were big, physical, had a good game plan and stuck to it.

"I think we deserved a little bit more goal-wise, but we'll have a look at it again and see where we have to improve."

Although visiting goalkeeper William Mannion saved well from pacy wideman Smith having earlier denied McNall, while Sean Longstaff hit the woodwork with a free kick and captain Ben Pollock saw a header cleared off the line, Woolston was the busier of the two netminders.

As well as making a couple of great blocks, the North Shields-born 17-year-old impressed with his alert reading of the game and his accurate distribution and it was easy to see why he regularly represents his country at youth level.

"It's always good to put in a good performance but it doesn't really matter if we get beat." he said.

"I have my standards and I try to keep to them but on a night like this it doesn't matter - it was about getting through to the next round."