15 mins Toure shot. 1-0

Half time: Newcastle 1 Stoke 0

48 mins Vilca shot. 2-0

74 mins Flaherty volley. 3-0

(85 minutes Niall Brookwell sent off)

86 mins Forrester header. 3-1

88 mins Varian shot. 3-2

Full time: Newcastle 3 Stoke 2

Stan Flaherty scored his fifth goal of the season from just nine starts. The midfielder has netted the last goal for his side in all four of our victories.
 

Waffle

The U23s avoided what would have been their third successive home defeat when they faced Stoke City on Friday evening, hanging on to win 3-2 after a late fight back from the Potters threatened to wipe out our three goal lead.

United took the lead in the 15th minute when Yannick Toure was through on goal and had the strength to force his way past a defender before firing in.

Rodrigo Vilca got his first Newcastle goal three minutes after the break, converting a low shot from the edge of the box. And Stan Flaherty struck the goal of the game in the 74th minute when he volleyed in from the right hand side of the area.

But with the Magpies seemingly coasting to victory, Niall Brookwell received his second yellow and was sent off with five minutes remaining.

The visitors almost immediately pulled one back, William Forester heading beyond Oliver Marshall from close range. And it was soon 3-2 after the visitors worked the ball into the United box and Ethan Varian bundled it home from inside the six yard box.

However City were unable to claim a share of the points, the ten man Magpies seeing out five minutes of added time.

The three points were enough to take United off the foot of the table, rising from thirteenth to ninth.

Speculation that U23 players would be used to boost the senior squad for Saturday proved to be wide of the mark, suggesting that the first team selection crisis isn't quite as acute as portrayed.

One unexpected inclusion was midfielder Jack Young, loaned to Tranmere Rovers but failing to feature for the League Two side recently.

Biffa