7 mins Airey shot 1-0

14 mins Airey shot 2-0

Half time: Toon 2 Town 0

81 mins Airey penalty 3-0

Full time: Toon 3 Town 0

Coach Alan Thompson said:

"The next step for these lads is to move up to the first-team training ground next season. They’ve still got a long way to go, but it’s then about catching the eye. First and foremost they need to be consistent at reserve-team level, but we’re really pleased with them.

"Phil’s a threat. He’s game and he’s raw - he’s got a lot to work on and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do again next season. It was a team effort overall and we kept a clean sheet, which I was delighted with. We’ve done that twice in the last two games and conceded just one in the last three, so it’s pleasing because we’ve been working at that and wanting to improve it.”

Newcastle reserves completed their fixture programme on Thursday afternoon with a victory over Grimsby Town at Whitley Park that was far more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

All three United goals came from the boot of Phil Airey, who netted on 7 and 14 minutes, before converting from the penalty spot with nine minutes remaining. That hat trick was enough to take the 18 year-old striker on to eight goals for the season in reserve competitions - level with Wesley Ngo Baheng.

The French-born forward appeared off the bench for the second half and could have had a treble of his own, one effort being blocked by Mariners 'keeper Leigh Overton and a later header and a shot both missing the target.

Airey himself snatched at a couple of other half-chances, while winger Shane Ferguson hit the Town crossbar near the end of the first half, seconds after a defensive mix-up down the other end saw Kieran Smith strike a post. 

And so another season of second-string football comes to an end, with the first team's promotion also meaning that the reserves will once again feature in the Premier Reserve League North. For Jonny Godsmark, Darren Lough and Wesley Baheng though, this looked to have been their final games in a black and white shirt - Frank Danquah and Callum Morris already having moved on.  

Poor winter weather and an increased reliance on youth team players meant that this was a stop -start season, especially when an FA Youth Cup run came around at the same time as better weather.

Once again the thorny question of where to play these games is unresolved, with just two reserve fixtures staged at SJP all season and the Whitley Park pitch now no better than the surfaces we previously endured at Kingston Park and Gateshead.  

Biffa

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