Three second half goals saw United U23s record their biggest league victory of the season as they returned to action on Friday afternoon after the festive break.

Ben Dawson's side lined up at the Academy without a quartet of players due to first team call-ups ahead of Saturday's FA Cup tie, but created the majority of scoring chances in the opening period.

Visiting goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond denied both Adam Wilson and Yannick Toure, while opposite number Jake Turner dealt with a number of crosses as the visitors funnelled ther majority of their attacks down the right.

There was almost a breakthrough in the first minute of the second half; home midfielder Mo Sangare twice seeing shots in the same move blocked by defenders. 

The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute when Newcastle's Rosaire Longelo turned in the area and powered a fine drive into the top right corner to register his third league goal of the campaign.

An uninspiring game provided little to entertain a small crowd apart from that strike, until a late flourish from the hosts provided some gloss to the scoreline.

Ten minutes from time Toure made it 2-0 with a low finish for his first goal since back in April and Victor Fernandez poked home Dylan Stephenson's cross in the 83rd minute to double his own seasonal tally.

Fulham wasted the chance of an instant reply when Martell Taylor-Crossdale missed a sitter from just six yards out, somehow planting his shot wide.

A first win in three league games took the Magpies up into eighth place with 16 points from 14 games - four points off a promotion playoff spot.

NB: The absence of defensive duo Lewis Cass and Ludwig Francillette plus forwards Tom Allan and Elias Sorensen was due to their inclusion in the senior squad for Saturday's visit to Rochdale.

Allan and Sorensen featured in our pre-season game against Wolves with the latter eligible to play after being an unused substitute in the FA Cup during his loan spell at Carlisle earlier this season.

Biffa