Newcastle U21s fell to defeat at the Meadow Park home of Boreham Wood in PL2 on Friday evening, tenants Arsenal playing with a near-gale force wind in their favour and running up a three goal advantage before half time.

Ahead thanks to Sebastian Ferdinand's 16th minute effort from close in, the Gunners doubled their lead 10 minutes later through Khayon Edwards before Osman Kamara's shot made it 0-3 a minute before the break.

Beginning the second period as the wind dropped, a more even contest followed and the visitors were denied a goal by Marli Salmon's goal line clearance.

United did reduce the arrears thanks to a 76th minute penalty conversion from Jay Turner-Cooke after Ciaran Thompson was impeded in the box.

However Arsenal almost instantly restored their three goal advantage, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand sending his free kick straight past goalkeeper James Taylor.

There was no further scoring, United now victorious in just one of their last six games in this competition and having conceded 21 goals during that time.

Many thanks to SP, GT and MP