41 mins Tom Allan shot. 1-0

Half time: Villans 0 Magpies 1

47 mins Kadan Young shot. 1-1

81 mins Adam Wilson cross/shot. 2-1

Full time: Villans 1 Magpies 2
 

PL2 scorers 2021/22:

Dylan Stephenson 12
Jay Turner-Cooke 7
Charlie Wiggett 6
Elliot Anderson 5
Isaac Westendorf 5
Adam Wilson 4
Cameron Ferguson 2
OG 2
Tom Allan 1
Niall Brookwell 1
Nathan Carlyon 1
Lucas De Bolle 1
Santiago Munoz 1
Josh Scott 1
Joe White 1
Jack Young 1

The Magpies utilised 40 players during their 26 PL2 games.

Newcastle's U23 side concluded their PL2 season with a victory at Villa Park on Monday afternoon - ending a run of four successive defeats that had torpedoed their hopes of a promotion playoff place.

The Magpies went ahead four minutes before the interval thanks to a spectacular effort from Tom Allan, who beat home 'keeper Oliwier Zych from level with the centre circle just into the Villa half.

Villa made it 1-1 on 47 minutes when Kadan Young took a centre from Frankie Ealing and fired in from close range.

Adam Wilson's cross from the left then ended up in the net in the 81st minute - and that proved enough for the visitors to claim all three points.

Elliot Dickman's side finish in eighth position - three shy of a playoff spot - and while they've tailed off disappointingly and conceded an unacceptably large number of goals, there has been an upturn in our fortunes compared to the position we were in 12 months ago:

2021: 13th of 13, 25 points from 24 games -16 GD (scored 31 conceded 47)
2122: 8th of 14, 38 points from 26 games -5 GD (scored 51 conceded 56)

Putting results aside, progression to the senior squad remains an aspiration rather than a clearly-defined pathway - and the policy of loaning players to Football League clubs remains of dubious value, boosting some careers (Elliot Anderson) but just a waste of time for others (Matty Bondswell).

Ultimately though, a lack of strength throughout the academy undermines the U23s; filling the side with trialists in the closing weeks of the season and those who already know they won't be getting a new contract is proven to not to be successful season after season when he screw up promotion.

There's a larger issue with age specific football as compared to the previous all age reserve league, but for evidence that we continue to punch below our weight at the level, look no further than teams from Championship sides like Nottingham Forest and Stoke City who finished above us.