32 mins Fletcher penalty. 0-1

Half time: Boro 1 Magpies 0

83 mins Coburn shot. 0-2

90 mins McEntee shot. 1-2

Full time: Boro 2 Magpies 1

Christian Atsu became the 44th player to feature for the U23s in their 15 Premier League 2 games to date.

Newcastle U23s lost by the odd goal in three for the second time this week on Friday, beaten by Boro at the Heritage Park home of Bishop Auckland.

Included in coach Chris Hogg's starting line-up was Christian Atsu, whose only competitive outing at any level this season was a ten minute cameo against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup last September.

Presumably this was a belated attempt to give him some minutes as he's in the 25 man senior squad, although continuing to train alongside the reserves.

Henri Saivet also dirtied his boots, but was making up the numbers following his omission from the senior squad.

Boro midfielder Isaac Fletcher's 32nd minute penalty conversion separated the sides at the interval.

Josh Coburn's 83rd minute effort then looked to secure the points for Boro, only for their 'keeper Zach Hemming to be red-carded in the 87th minute for handling outside of his area.

United defender Oisin McEntee then fired past substitute custodian Bradley James from close range to pull one goal back in the last minute of normal time.

And there was almost a repeat of the 2-2 draw between the sides on Tyneside earlier this season, when substitute Dylan Stephenson's effort deep into time added on deflected off a post.