2mins Satka header 1-0

40mins Akpom shot 1-1

Half time: Magpies 1 Gunners 1

61mins Akpom penalty 1-2

90mins Maitland-Niles shot 1-3

Full time: Magpies 1 Gunners 3

United reserves rounded off their U21 league season in typical fashion on Friday afternoon, taking an early lead before losing the initiative and ending up pointless.

Having broken his scoring duck in Tuesday's Northumberland Senior Cup Final victory over Blyth Spartans, Lubo Satka struck again after just two minutes - connecting with Michael Richardson's corner to head powerfully in from six yards. 

The Gunners looked to reply instantly and debutant home 'keeper Freddie Woodman made a series of stops, while at the other end Gael Bigirimana, Jonathyn Quinn and Rolando Aarons al tested visiting custodian Matt Macey.

Bigirimana looked a certain scorer on 36 minutes, when interplay between Quinn and Richardson led to the ball breaking to him well inside the Arsenal box. However the Burundian midfielder shot against the woodwork.  

That miss was to prove costly when the Gunners leveled after 40 minutes. Striker Ainsley Maitland-Niles showed good feet and dropped a shoulder to elude a challenge, before picking out fellow forward Chuba Akpom, who sent Woodman the wrong way before calmly side-footing in.

Despite the constant drizzle, the opening half was well contested by both sides on an excellent playing surface behind closed doors at the clubs' Darsley Park facility.

After a scrappy opening to the second period, Arsenal took the lead on 61 minutes. Akpom was upended in the area by Kevin Mbabu and the England U19 striker got up to claim his second of the game from the penalty spot.

Without dominating proceedings, the visitors assumed control of the game from that point and United only ever really looked like adding to their tally when Aarons came forward. Attempting a cross-shot that substitute Dan Barlaser failed to control, the Jamaican-born winger then tumbled in the box six minutes from full time, but failed to convince referee Turner that he'd been impeded.

After Woodman twice prevented Akpom completing his hat trick, Arsenal then sealed victory in the closing seconds when Jon Toral played in Maitland-Niles, who buried a low left-footer. 

Visiting substitute Tafari Moore then rattled the United goal frame during added time, before the final whistle sounded to end a disappointing campaign in which Peter Beardsley's side won just four times, conceded 54 goals and were kept off bottom spot in the league table by Blackburn Rovers - who won 2-1 when the teams met.

United will play in the lower division of next season's reformatted U21 competition, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, the smoggies, Reading, Stoke City, Spurs, West Brom and Wolves.

Thanks to GW