In a game staged at the neutral venue of Blackburn Rovers' Brockhall Village Academy, after the original fixture was postponed last month due to illness, Newcastle knew that three points could see them overtake their Black County opponents. 

But the Magpies were behind inside the opening five minutes, when Brad Carr beat Otto Huuhtanen.

Matty Longstaff equalised early in the second half but Josh Hesson restored Wolves' advantage before Carr scored his second of the game to make it 3-1.

Newcastle, who have now slipped to third, have one game left this season - an 11am kick-off at Little Benton against Swansea City.

Newcastle United Under-18s: Otto, Huuhtanen, Gideon Adu-Peprah, Kieren Aplin, Matthew Longstaff, Ben Kitchen, Craig Spooner, Owen Gallagher, Mace Goodridge (Daniel Lowther 78), Elias Sorensen (Thomas Allan 68), Mackenzie Heaney, Callum Smith

Subs not used: Will Brown, Isaac Gamblin