First half goals from Elias Sorensen and Callum Roberts gave Newcastle a winning start to their Premier League Cup fixture programme at Whitley Park on Thursday night.

The Danish striker scored twice for the U23s here in the league on Monday - although attempting to claiming a hat trick - and took just 18 minutes to put his side in front against the Central Leaguers.

Achraaf Lazaar's cross from the left was headed goalward by Sorensen and although he dived to his left towards the foot of the post, visiting custodian Max Culverwell was unable to stop the effort.

Sorensen then warmed the 'keeper's hands with a firmly-struck shot two minutes later before his opposite number Nathan Harker denied visiting captain Pierce Bird from distance soon after.

What proved to be the winning goal arrived two minutes before the interval, Roberts acquiring possession on the halfway line before charging towards goal and driving the ball powerfully home for his fourth of the season.

Notts threatened to make an unremarkable second period interesting when trialist substitute Josh Bingham surprised Harker with a looping header thirteen minutes from the end of normal time, but United were never in danger of surrendering their lead.

The two clubs will meet again in the CheckaTrade Trophy at Meadow Lane on Tuesday night, when United's reserve side will come up against a more senior County XI. 

For the second successive game, Neil Redfearn was spotted in the Newcastle dugout, current Head Coach Ben Dawson confirming that he's joined his backroom staff for an unspecified period.

53 year-old Redfearn previously took charge of Scarborough, Leeds United and Rotherham United and arrives after a brief spell managing Liverpool Women's team, having also worked for talkSPORT.

As a player the midfielder enjoyed a 25 year career at a host of clubs including Watford and Barnsley - scoring against us a number of times, notably during marathon FA Cup battles with the Hornets in 1989.  

This was the first of six group stage games in this competition, with Ben Dawson's side playing Notts County, Southampton and Leeds United home and away in the coming months.

Elsewhere in Group H, Southampton beat Leeds United 2-1 in their opening game 24 hours later.

Biffa