Thanks to Albert T for the photo

Newcastle U21s concluded their PL2 home programme on Monday night with a resounding victory at St.James' Park that confirmed a top 16 finish and a place in the end of season playoff round.

The opening exchanges were even with Reading enjoying most of the possession but not troubling the home defence. The opener, in the 12th minute, was a goal of sheer class. Anthony Munda played a superb ball from midfield in his own half, picking out Garang Kuol on Newcastle’s left flank. 

The Aussie advanced on goal before cutting inside and letting rip with a snorter from outside the box that zeroed into the top right hand corner of the Gallowgate End net.

United doubled the score in the 35th minute with another screamer. Alfie Harrison was the scorer this time, taking a pass from Leo Shahar before blasting another rocket, this time from the right flank, that gave Boyce-Clarke, in goal for Reading, no chance.

The 2–0 lead looked comfortable enough but Reading were not deterred and pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half. Shahar lost possession on halfway and the visitors counter-attacked. For once, the Newcastle defence was found wanting as Tuma netted from close range.

Any hopes that Reading had of mounting a come-back were extinguished three minutes later when Shahar more than made amends for his earlier error with a delightful strike at the Leazes End, beating
Borgnis before curling a shot into the bottom corner of the net for his first goal at this level.

United’s next goal came in the 65th minute from the penalty spot after Kuol was brought down from behind. Jay Turner-Cooke took the kick and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way as he blasted it home.

This effectively killed off Reading, whose heads perceptively dropped, and Newcastle made the most of it. Johnny Emerson came on in place of Turner-Cooke and netted another fine goal to make it 5-1 in the 79th minute, taking a nice pass from Harrison inside the box and shooting low into the net.

Garang Kuol made it a personal brace in the 82nd minute, taking a nice chip by Emerson into the box and darting forward to score.

Another sub, Joe Brayson, rounded off the festivities by grabbing number seven in the last minute, racing to the back post to blast an astute pass by Kuol into the net from virtually on the line.

Goals galore for the second string then who clearly enjoyed performing on the hallowed turf of St James’ - scoring seven goals in one league game for the first time since the Premier Reserve League came into existence in 1999.

Diarmuid O'Carroll's side end the regular season at table toppers Manchester City next Monday - the Citizens needing to avoid defeat in order to clinch the title for the fourth time in five seasons.

The top eight teams then host a playoff round game each against the sides finishing ninth to sixteenth, with the first place finisher hosting the sixteenth, second the fifteenth etc.

That knockout process then continues until the final two teams remain - Spurs finishing top of the table and also winning the playoffs last year in what was the first season of this format.

Many thanks to Alan Candlish