5mins Roberts shot 1-0

19mins Armstrong shot 2-0

Half time: Newcastle 2 Villa 0

70mins Armstrong shot 3-0

88mins Vuckic shot 4-0

90mins Barlaser shot 5-0

Full time: Newcastle 5 Villa 0

United's most emphatic reserve league victory in over three years saw them move within a point of leaders Arsenal under the bright lights of St.James' Park on Monday evening. 

Beaten for the first time this season by Middlesbrough a week earlier, Peter Beardsley's side were ahead after just five minutes, when Callum Roberts drilled home a low shot from the edge of the box into the Leazes net. A minute earlier, Michael Drennan had dragged his effort wide of the target when well placed for the visitors.

The lead was doubled in the 19th minute as Roberts pushed forward down the right and found Kevin Mbabu on the overlap. The Swiss defender got beyond his man and sent over a low centre that Adam Armstrong bundled home from inside the six yard box.

That was the signal for the visitors to push further forward and look slightly more menacing - although their shooting remained of the wayward variety.

What proved to be the most dangerous moment for a Villa side coached by old boy Gordon Cowans came just after the half hour, when Drennan curled a 25 yard free kick against the crossbar following a foul outside the box that saw Gael Bigirimana cautioned.  

It was 3-0 in the 70th minute when Armstrong took down a lofted pass from Liam Gibson on the left hand corner of the Villa area and confidently smashed it past the 'keeper for a fifth U21 goal in just two starts.

Facundo Ferryra was then withdrawn, having produced little to suggest that he'll be in Alan Pardew's thoughts anytime soon. Anonymous in the first half, the on-loan striker played in Armstrong after the break and flashed a shot wide but looked way behind his younger local rival in terms of staking a first team place.

Into the 88th minute and substitute Alex Gilliead pushed down the right, before his pull back was unselfishly laid off by Roberts and gave Haris Vuckic an easy finish.

The scoring was completed in the final minute of normal time, when Roberts popped up on the left and Armstrong laid the ball off for Dan Barlaser to steer a low shot into the corner of the net from just outside the box.

Biffa