2mins Liam Smith shot 1-0

13mins Reed shot 1-1

17mins Rowe shot 1-2

22mins Bigirimana shot 2-2

42mins Rowe shot 2-3

Half time: Saints 3 Magpies 2

Full time: Saints 3 Magpies 2

Less than a week after the first team were humiliated there, United's U21s came up against their Saints counterparts at St. Mary's on Thursday afternoon. 

And Newcastle's yellow-clad second string made a rather better start than their senior colleagues, going ahead within two minutes through midfielder Liam Smith.

Michael Richardson pushed forward and after evading a couple of challenges brought a save from home 'keeper Ted Smith. The ball ran free and Smith was on hand to side foot home for a first competitive reserve goal.

Smith then saw his centre from the left wing touched on to the crossbar by the Saints custodian. Back came the Saints though and Harry Reed levelled after thirteen minutes, beating Jonathan Mitchell from 20 yards with the aid of a slight deflection. 

Omar Rowe then put the home side ahead four minutes later, after a tragically under-hit back pass from Macaulay Gillesphey was intercepted by the Saints winger, who netted the 50th U21 league goal conceded this season.  

A frantic opening saw parity restored midway through the opening half when Alex Gilliead and Richardson combined for the latter to try a shot. The effort lacked power but Smith - on trial from Southend United - split it horribly, leaving Gael Bigirimana with a tap-in.

Southampton's England U19 forward Sam Gallagher was causing the United defence some headaches and after shooting into the side netting early on, missed another good opportunity after 24 minutes when blasting wide.

Things then calmed down somewhat, but Richardson was again given a shooting chance on 36 minutes after good approach work from Smith and Bigirimana, this attempt deflected away for a corner that came to nothing.

Rowe then bagged his second of the afternoon three minutes before the break to put Southampton 3-2 up, stepping between two defenders before latching on to Sam McQueen's left wing cross to volley in first-time. 

After another dangerous centre from Smith flew across the home box, United forced a couple of corners that failed to produce a scoring opportunity before half time.

Peter Beardsley's side appeared for the second half with one like for like change, central defender Ryan McKinnon replacing Macaulay Gillesphey.

A less frenetic half saw Gallagher dispossess Olivier Kemen but fail to trouble Mitchell, before the United 'keeper fumbled Rowe's centre just before the hour - Gallagher thankfully only able to stab the loose ball wide.  

At the other end, United struggled to create any real opportunities for another equaliser, Gilliead's long-range effort after 68 minutes easily gathered by Smith. Introducing Jonathyn Quinn from the bench for the closing stages of the contest, fellow substitute Liam Gibson went down under challenge amid half-hearted penalty appeals on 75 minutes.

And seeking to seal the win that would maintain their hopes of making the end-of-season playoffs, Saints attacked again through Gallagher - Rowe denied his hat-trick when Mitchell turned over his shot.   

Alex Gilliead almost made a breakthrough for United with five minutes of normal time remaining, latching on to a through ball from Bigirimana. Smith won the race to reach it only to completely mis-kick, but the home 'keeper managed to smother the ball before Gilliead could react.

Mitchell then made further noteworthy stops, denying substitute duo Josh Sims and Jake Hesketh - the former having netted for Southampton U18s on Tyneside earlier in the season.

However our away fixture programme ended for this season with a sixth successive defeat, as United were again unable to capitalise on a bright start, steadily running out of ideas as the game wore on.

Positives from the afternoon were that a heavier defeat and our habit of conceding late goals were both avoided and keeping at least a 45 minute clean sheet represented progress of sorts.

A fifth U21 outing since returning from injury did see an improvement in sharpness from Gael Bigirimana, while 18 year-old Liam Smith's season is ending on a high note as the talented ball-playing midfielder maintains his fitness.  

Thanks to GW