The young Magpies fell behind in the opening stages of their Group C clash at the LNER Community Stadium following Joe Felix's fierce drive before Vakhtang Salia's clinical finish, the Georgian teenager's fourth goal in his last five games drew the visitors level on the stroke of half-time.

Kyran Thompson, making his first start for Newcastle's Under-21s since joining from Arsenal last summer, fired the visitors ahead within the opening minute of the restart before Afner Cá, introduced from the substitutes' bench, netted his first goal for the club in the closing stages.

Robbie Stockdale made two changes from last week's National League Cup clash against Boreham Wood as Thompson was awarded his first start for United's second-string while Luke Craggs replaced Mason Miley in the starting 11.

Magpies goalkeeper Roman Dowell, who made his first start at Under-21 level against Boreham Wood seven days ago, produced an excellent save to deny Dipo Akinyemi, clawing the 29-year-old's goal bound header to safety.

York, currently occupying third place in League Two, took the lead in the eighth minute courtesy of Felix's emphatic drive as the City full-back was allowed time and space on the edge of the penalty area before drilling a powerful effort into the far left-hand corner.

Dowell, a representative of England at Under-17 level, carried out a crucial save to prevent Jovan Malcolm from doubling the host's lead in swift fashion, blocking the York forward's low drive inside the box with his right foot.

The 16-year-old shot-stopper denied Malcolm for a second time shortly after as the former Gateshead man was played through on goal by Felix but the Boldon-born youngster stood firm to block the unmarked forward's strike inside the box.

The busy 'keeper was thwarted into action once more, reaching out to hold Akinyemi's header following Arthur Read's teasing corner from the left flank.

In the 44th minute, Newcastle equalised with their first shot on target as Salia scored his fourth goal in his opening five games at Under-21 level.

The Georgia Under-21 international, who joined the Magpies from Dinamo Tbilisi on his 18th birthday in August 2025, capitalised on Ash Palmer's loose pass inside the box before cooly rifling the ball into the roof of the net.

Newcastle, targeting a first EFL Trophy win inside 90 minutes since November 2018, took the lead within the opening 60 seconds of the restart as Thompson netted his first goal at Under-21 level.

After Miodrag Pivaš cleared the ball into the 17-year-old's path, the London-born forward completed a darting run towards goal before firing a low effort into the far right-hand corner.

Magpies skipper Scott Bailey, who joined his boyhood club's Academy as a nine-year-old, aimed to double his side's advantage in audacious fashion as the Durham-born midfielder's lob from distance flew over the crossbar.

The League Two outfit, won last season's National League title, struck the post shortly after the hour mark through Jack Hunt, who controlled the ball inside the box but his low strike, with Dowell beaten, clipped the base of the left-hand post.

Sixteen-year-old winger Alfie Seldon, who has netted four goals in his opening five league games at Under-18 level, was handed his competitive debut at Under-21 level in the closing stages.

Thompson missed a glorious opportunity to extend Newcastle's lead as the England Under-17 international raced onto Pivaš' lofted pass in behind the York defence but lifted his attempt at goal over the crossbar.

In the 83rd minute, Newcastle added a third as Cá recorded his first goal for the Magpies since joining last summer following the expiry of his contract with La Liga side Levante.

After Thompson dispossessed former Magpie Charlie McArthur on the halfway line, the former threaded the ball into Cá's path before the Guinea-Bissau forward calmly placed the ball beyond York goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy, sealing the young Magpies' first win of the 2026/27 season.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Roman Dowell, Scott Bailey (c), Dylan Charlton, Luke Craggs, Kyran Thompson (Kacey Wooster 90), Miodrag Pivaš, Vakhtang Salia (Afner Cá 70), Logan Watts, Henry Johnson (Johnny Emerson 70), Matheos Ferreira (Alfie Seldon 90), Sam Alabi (Fraser Harper 84)

Subs not used: George Mair, Jake Durrant.