6 mins Larsson shot. 0-1

19 mins McAdam shot. 0-2

24 mins Vilca shot. 1-2

Half time: Trees 2 Toon 1

57 mins Larsson shot. 1-3

Full time: Trees 3 Toon 1

Winless in their last eight PL2 fixtures, Newcastle's U21 side were hoping to emulate their first team colleagues when they faced Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Clashing at the home side's Wilford Lane academy site, the Magpies fell behind after just six minutes when Josh Powell centred from the left flank and Julian Larsson supplied a routine finish.

Visiting goalkeeper Max Thompson was retrieving the ball from his net again in the 19th minute when Kyle McAdam netted from close range after a goalmouth scramble stemming from a Forest corner. 

Thompson then made a one-handed stop to deny Larsson his second and Forest's third, before United reduced the arrears on 24 minutes through a low drive from Rodrigo Vilca - his second goal in as many games.

The home side restored their two goal advantage 12 minutes after the interval, Newcastle punished for conceding possession in midfield when Larsson raced away and side-footed home.

Into the closing stages and the black and whites twice came close to reducing the arrears; Amadou Diallo's cross striking the crossbar on 84 minutes before substitute James Huntley's effort was headed off the line by Josh Powell.

However there was to be no further scoring, three points for Forest maintaining their hopes of securing automatic promotion. Newcastle sit 19 points behind them, in ninth.

Many thanks to the long-suffering GW