Ahead of Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy tie against the mackems, Newcastle's U23s came from two goals down to complete a league derby double at the mackem academy on Friday afternoon. 

Two behind just after the half hour mark, Ben Dawson's side had halved the deficit before half time and then levelled after the interval as they assumed control.

The victory United's play warranted looked to have eluded them when Callum Roberts missed a late penalty, only for substitute Rosaire Longelo to net in added time to complete a superb comeback. 

This rearranged game was staged behind closed doors, the visitors returning to competitive action for the first time since their 1-2 defeat at Southampton three weeks ago. 

The red and whites went ahead after 11 minutes when a ball down the middle of the field caught out the United defence, leaving Lee Connelly with an easy finish.

Clad in their blue change kit, United almost levelled on 22 minutes when Callum Roberts shot against the base of the post and then saw his second effort blocked.

A quickly-taken free kick on the half hour then gave Connelly another sight of goal, only to be denied by Newcastle 'keeper Otto Huuhtanen. 

United's Thomas Allan then sliced badly wide, before Huuhtanen's awful 34th minute clearance fell to Jack Diamond on the left touchline and he arrowed his shot straight into the unguarded net.

Undaunted, United continued to press forward and top scorer Elias Sorensen twice missed the target in quick succession before his side were rewarded with three minutes of the first half remaining. 

Full back Olly Walters made good progress down the right flank before sending over a cross that struck his colleague Thomas Allan and ended up in the net, Allan having taken a tumble seconds earlier when clashing with a home defender.

The visitors dominated proceedings after the restart and were level on the hour, Liam Gibson's deep cross from the left to the back post knocked back across goal by Allen for Elias Sorensen to bury his  nineteenth reserve league and cup goal of the season from close range.

Newcastle substitute Rosaire Longelo was then fouled in the box by Jacob Young with 12 minutes to go, only for Callum Roberts to blaze the consequent spot-kick over the bar - ending a run of five successful penalty conversions this season.

Justice was done in the first minute of added time though, when a free kick in a central position just outside the home box was taken by Sorensen. The Dane's effort was parried by Anthony Patterson, but Rosaire Longelo - who had wasted an opportunity from similar range moments earlier - made no mistake, hammering home the rebound high into the net. 

The result gives added impetus to Dawson's side, who make a quick return to wearside on Tuesday night to face the mackem first team at the stadium of plight, back by with 2,800 travelling fans. 

Biffa