After a goalless first-half, with Newcastle goalkeeper Max Thompson making a string of key saves, Michael Ndiweni broke the deadlock within two minutes of his introduction from the substitutes' bench as the ball ricocheted into the net following the attempted clearance of Albion goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead.

However, the young Magpies were delivered two sickening blows in the final stages as Reyes Cleary's three-minute brace turned the game dramatically against Newcastle's favour, with the Baggies forward confirming the victory in the 92nd minute.

After an unbeaten pre-season campaign for Newcastle's second-string, claiming three wins out of four fixtures, Elliott Dickman handed Irish defender Alex Murphy, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Galway United, a competitive debut for United's under-21 side.

Santiago Muñoz, Lucas de Bolle and Dylan Stephenson - who all made their first-team bows for Newcastle last month - were also named in the starting eleven.

Thompson was forced into action within the opening minutes as the England under-18 international, who kept a clean sheet on his Young Lions debut, pushed away Jamie Andrews' vicious strike towards the right-hand post before keeping out Cleary's venomous effort 60 seconds later.

Jay Turner-Cooke, who joined the Magpies' Academy from Sunderland in January 2021, went close to opening the scoring for United's youngsters as the teenager's low shot was parried by Hollingshead before the Baggies shot-stopper smothered the loose ball.

Turner-Cooke almost sent the visitors ahead as the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who travelled with Newcastle's first-team for pre-season trips to Austria and Portugal, latched onto Matt Bondswell's inviting cross but his improvised flick was kept out by Hollingshead.

With the half-time whistle approaching, the lively Turner-Cooke missed a key opportunity in front of goal. After Stephenson threaded a neat pass into Muñoz's path, the Mexican striker teed up Turner-Cooke but dragged his shot wide of the target.

Josh Scott - who signed his first professional contract for his boyhood club in the summer of 2021 - was unable to provide a breakthrough for United's youngsters as the Gateshead-born winger fired a low effort past the right-hand post.

Dickman brought on Kyle Crossley and Ndiweni from the substitutes' bench and it was the latter who made a quick impact mark as the Throckley-born striker, who signed his first professional deal with his boyhood club last month, chased down Hollingshead before the goalkeeper's intended clearance fortunately bounced off the 18-year-old and into the net.

The teenage forward, who joined Newcastle's Academy at the age of 12, spurned a key chance moments later as the ball landed into his path inside the penalty area but sliced his attempt past the target.

In the 89th minute, Newcastle found themselves back on level terms as Cleary picked up the ball on the left wing and, after dangerously cutting inside, drilled a fierce shot beyond Thompson into the bottom left-hand corner.

With six minutes of stoppage-time added, United's second-string suffered a further blow as Cleary found space before drilling another powerful strike into the net.

There was still time for Newcastle to conjure a final shot at goal as Ndiweni was denied by a heroic last-ditch block by Albion defender Zac Ashworth, turning the forward's close-range shot over for a corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Max Thompson, Niall Brookwell (c), Charlie Wiggett, Alex Murphy, Matt Bondswell, Nathan Carlyon, Lucas de Bolle, Dylan Stephenson (Jordan Hackett 85), Josh Scott (Michael Ndiweni 68), Jay Turner-Cooke, Santiago Muñoz (Kyle Crossley 63).

Subs not used: Will Brown, James Huntley.