Following a below-par display and defeat by Boro a week ago, Newcastle's U23s bounced back with a memorable victory at Leigh Sports Village on Friday night.

A fairly even opening saw neither goalkeeper tested but a wayward clearance by home Captain Regan Poole on 31 minutes presented the ball to Matty Longstaff outside the area.

The midfielder instinctively hit a low pass through to the unmarked Elias Sorensen and he calmly sent his angled shot past the 'keeper from six yards out.

The game was then stopped for six minutes following an injury to Lewis Cass, who went down on the touchline with what looked like a serious ankle problem and was eventually stretchered off.

Following the resumption Freddie Woodman tipped over an effort from Aidan Barlow, but couldn't prevent a freakish equaliser in the first minute of added time. 

Angel Gomes picked up possession on the right flank before moving into the box with a posse of blue-clad defenders round him, only to find the top corner of the net via a crazy deflection off a visiting player.

Into the second half and Ben Dawson's side came close to restoring their lead when Stefan O'Connor met a 50th minute corner from Callum Roberts, only for his strong header to whistle past the post.

However, Newcastle did regain their advantage with a stunningly-executed goal from Sorensen - the Dane beginning the move out on the left deep into enemy territory with a short pass infield to Sean Longstaff.

He in turn pushed the ball on to Roberts, whose sublime first-time ball picked out Sorensen as he dashed forward, supplying another deadly finish deep inside the box. 

The Red Devils pushed forward in search of another equaliser and only an excellent stop from Woodman denied Mason Greenwood after 58 minutes. 

Sorensen was then replaced just after the hour by rookie Yannick Toure, with the two goal hero looking to be receiving some treatment after going off. 

Coping with further home pressure, Newcastle then broke away to open up a two goal lead on 80 minutes: Roberts taking Matty Longstaff's pass, racing into the box and making room to hammer his shot home from 12 yards.

Poole rattled a post late on, but Newcastle had the final word in the third and final minute of added time. 

Mo Sangare's diagonal ball across the area set up fellow substitute Toure to stroke in his first goal for the club from close range, rounding off a fine team display that featured some outstanding counter-attacking.

PS: Newcastle have now scored 24 goals in their 10 PL2 games this season so far, compared to 29 in the whole of last season's 22 game league campaign.