Newcastle U23s returned to PL2 action on Monday night when they hosted Nottingham Forest but their three-game winning run in the league came to an end after a single-goal defeat at Whitley Park.

Forest took the lead in the 31st minute when Ateef Konate knocked the ball across the six yard box and Will Swan finished from almost on the goal line.

The visitors thought they had a second in the 57th minute when Swan had his attempt on goal blocked by Will Brown and Lewis Salmon's shot looked to have been taken over the line by Brown but the referee and linesman were unmoved.

Substitute Rodrigo Vilca hit an effort from distance in the 79th minute but it cannoned back off the post and that was as close as United came to equalising.

There was a moment of late controversy when Niall Brookwell was fouled in the closing seconds of the game - referee Michael Barlow seemingly hesitating before turning down sizeable penalty appeals.
 

Coming off the bench was striker Isaac Westendorf, who scored twice in three U23 appearances as a trialist earlier in the season. United confirmed before kick-off that he has now signed an 18-month contract at SJP.

Biffa