Wrexham 1 Newcastle United Under-21s 0 - EFL Trophy

The Magpies’ Under-21 side has a dreadful recent record in the Trophy, and qualification for the knockout stages of this season’s competition already looks a tall order after an opening-game defeat at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. Perhaps a Hollywood scriptwriter could come up with a decent storyline for the remaining two group games?

Sam Dalby’s first-half strike was sufficient to settle things in North Wales, enabling the League Two hosts to triumph, but it was not all doom and gloom for an extremely youthful and inexperienced Newcastle side.

Left winger Amadou Diallo caught the eye repeatedly, particularly in an extremely bright spell towards the end of the first half, skipper Jamie Miley was neat and industrious in central midfield and centre-half Remi Savage was strong and imposing when he needed to be, and neat and tidy when he had the ball at his feet. It will be interesting to see how all three progress over the course of the next couple of years.

Newcastle’s side did not contain a single player who had made a competitive first-team appearance – Lewis Miley would almost certainly have played had he not been on international duty with England Under-19s - and their head coach, Ben Dawson, might well have feared the worst when they fell behind in the 13th minute.

Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper Aidan Harris spilled a routine cross from the left, and while a scrambling Newcastle defence did well to block two efforts from Liam McAlinden, the ball eventually broke to Dalby, who was able to hammer home.

Wrexham were fairly direct in their approach, but instead of crumbling after falling behind, Newcastle’s youngsters stuck to their footballing principles and spent the remainder of the first half pressing for an equaliser.

It should have arrived midway through the opening period, but while Diallo unlocked the Wrexham defence with a superb floated through ball, Magpies striker Dylan Stephenson spurned a golden opportunity when he fired over from eight yards.

Diallo, a 20-year-old Londoner who joined Newcastle last October after being released by West Ham, was a lively presence all evening, cutting in from his starting position on the left-hand side to run at the Wrexham defence.

He fired in a 28th-minute effort that was deflected narrowly over the crossbar, and went close again on the stroke of half-time, firing in a low shot from the edge of the area that was turned around the post by Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.

Diallo’s dribbling ability was clearly evident, along with his eye for an incisive pass, and as a former England Under-17 international, he appears a bright prospect.

He set up another good opportunity six minutes into the second half, releasing Stephenson into the left of the box, but again Newcastle’s central striker was wasteful, slicing his effort wide of the target.

Wrexham hadn’t offered much as an attacking force, but the hosts thought they should have had a clear penalty just before the hour mark.

Dalby went galloping clear of the Magpies defence, and went to ground as he attempted to round Harris. It looked like a foul, but referee Tom Parsons waved play on, much to the frustration of former Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson, who was leading Wrexham from the home dugout.

The home side came on strongly in the second half, and came within inches of doubling the lead in the 65th minute. Nathan Carylon fouled Ollie Palmer 25 yards out, and substitute Tom O’Connor stepped up to curl an excellent free-kick against the crossbar. The ball was recycled to Palmer, but Harris produced a fine save to tip the striker’s header over the top.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Forde (Barnett 76), Cleworth, Evans, Tunnicliffe (O’Connor 61), McFadzean; Jones, Young, McAlinden (Lee 88); Dalby (Palmer 61), Waters (Bickerstaff 76).

Subs (not used): McNicholas (gk), Tozer.

Newcastle Under-21s (4-2-3-1): Harris; Wiggett, Thompson, Savage, Hackett (Scott 82); Carlyon (de Bolle 75), Huntley (Hernes 67); Parkinson, Miley (Stanton 75), Diallo; Stephenson (Crossley 82).

Subs (not used): Brown (gk), Craggs.