Goals from Harvey Vincent, Ben Andreucci and Connor Douglas had given the visitors a three-goal lead inside the first half hour at Little Benton, leaving Graeme Carrick's United youngsters will a sizeable mountain to climb.

Just before the break, though, Emerson fired home from the spot after being brought down by Oscar Dawber to kick-start the fightback, with the Magpies man's lob on 51 minutes further closing the gap.

The hosts were then dealt a blow when Luca Thomas' fine long-range effort restored Leeds' two-goal cushion, but just before the hour Emerson completed his treble in style and cut the deficit to just one goal once again.

In the final ten minutes of a sensational contest, Newcastle levelled when Scott Godden fouled the superb Emerson in the box, with Josh Donaldson stepping up to convert and draw his side level at 4-4 with seven minutes remaining.

And it got even better a minute later as Donaldson found the target again to give United the lead for the first time, with Scott Bailey's 87th-minute drive rounding off the scoring and capping a terrific comeback from the Magpies' youngsters.

Newcastle United Under-18s: Aidan Harris, Carter Milmore (Thomas Bryant 46), Dylan Charlton, Rory Powell, Ciaran Thompson, Luke Craggs, Lucas Cooper, Darren Palmer (Beau Beresford 90), Shaun Mavididi (Josh Donaldson 61), Scott Bailey, Johnny Emerson (Logan Watts 90).

Subs not used: Adam Harrison.