Newcastle's U21 side extended their unbeaten run to eight games on Friday, thanks to a pair of late strikes at Manchester City's adopted home of Ewen Fields in Hyde.

Having played no part in Thursday's Europa League exit, former Manchester United player Gabriel Obertan led the line for the Magpies as an over-age player and created the first chance of the game after eight minutes.

Skipping past City's Facey, the Frenchman sent over a low cross that Alex Gilliead met, only for his sidefooted effort to be beaten away by 'keeper Ian Lawlor.

The home side then went ahead from their first notable effort of the game, Spanish teenager Jose Angel Pozo curling a low right foot effort from the edge of the area beyond Jak Alnwick.

Obertan then popped up on the United left and sent over a cross that took a fortunate deflection off a home player and fell nicely for Lawlor.

Restarting in heavy rain, United went looking for an equaliser and after Romain Amalfitano narrowly failed to connect with Michael Richardson's through ball on 52 minutes, Alex Nicholson saw his shot deflected wide of the target five minutes later.

That period of possession gave way to more sustained pressure from City, Pozo, John Guidetti and Albert Rusnak all having shooting opportunities as the rain eased.

Play switched back to the other end and Newcastle forced a trio of corners without putting the City goal under pressure from any them - substitute Jonathyn Quinn then directing his effort straight at Lawlor.

12 minutes from time United levelled after a fluid passing move between Kevin Mbabu and Amalfitano ended with Obertan seeing his shot blocked and Gilliead firing in the rebound from seven yards for his first U21 goal.

With the raining again coming down, Amalfitano evaded a series of challenges before slotted home his second goal in as many away games after 88 minutes.

An additional five minutes were played after Pozo needed treatment and left on a stretcher, Alnwick ensuring the destination of the points when coming off his line to dive at the feet of an attacker and collect the ball late on.

The three points were enough to lift Newcastle up to second place in their league, four points behind leaders Reading - with the Royals playing a game more.

Biffa

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