Half time: Newcastle U21s 0 West Bromwich Albion U21s 0

53 mins Heard shot. 0-1

73 mins Parkinson shot. 1-1

79 mins Crossley shot. 2-1

86 mins Crossley shot. 3-1

90+2 mins Whitwell shot. 3-2

Full time: Newcastle U21s 3 West Bromwich Albion U21s 2

A classic game of two halves at Whitley Park on Friday night ended with Newcastle registering a first PL2 home victory of 2024, offering them renewed hope of reaching the end-of-season playoffs.

Scoreless and largely featureless after the first 45 minutes, Albion broke the deadlock eight minutes after the restart when Fenton Heard's deflected shot looped over Jude Smith in the United goal.

Ben Dawson's side hit back on 73 minutes when Alfie Harrison's low centre from the left was turned home by Ben Parkinson to make it 1-1.

Harrison's 79th minute effort then led to the Magpies going ahead; Albion custodian Bradley Foster saving the initial shot with his feet but helpless to prevent substitute Kyle Crossley from hammering home the rebound.

Crossley - reportedly out of contract at the end of the season - then scored Newcastle's third goal of the night and his sixth in four games, outpacing a defender before finishing well on 86 minutes.

The Baggies got one back two minutes into the seven added on when Harry Whitwell netted via a post, but there was to be no further scoring.  

With four games left, United sit 21st in the 26 team league, four points short of a place in the top 16 which would see them qualify for the playoffs to determine finishing positions in PL2 (there's no promotion or relegation).

Thanks to GW