Ben Parkinson's composed finish broke the deadlock inside 12 minutes at Heritage Park before Ajay Matthews' sweeping effort swiftly levelled the league clash.

Kyle Crossley, who netted a brace in a 3-2 win against Sunderland on Monday, continued his bright goalscoring form before the half-hour mark, restoring the young Magpies' lead after firing home from a tight angle.

Newcastle were unfortunate not to extend their lead further, with Ciaran Thompson and Cathal Heffernan both hitting the woodwork, before United's youngsters conceded two late goals as Jack Hannah's close-range finish levelled the encounter before Willis' emphatic finish from the edge of the box in the final stages proved the difference.

Ben Dawson made one change from Monday's 3-2 away win at rivals Sunderland as Parkinson, who made his Premier League debut for the Magpies away at AFC Bournemouth in November, was named in the starting XI in place of Jordan Hackett. 

Magpies goalkeeper Will Brown was required to deny Sonny Finch in the opening 60 seconds, beating away the Boro forward's stinging drive towards goal inside the penalty area.

In the 12th minute, Newcastle broke the deadlock through Parkinson's strike. The Durham-born forward, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club last summer, latched onto Jamie Miley's lofted pass and, after controlling the ball, slotted a powerful low effort beyond Boro goalkeeper Shea Connor.

Eight minutes later, United's youngsters found themselves back on level terms following Matthews' strike. After a flowing move from the hosts, Willis' teasing pass into the box was swept home by the Boro centre-forward.

Crossley, however, netted in his third consecutive game for United's second-string across all competitions to restore United's one-goal cushion before the half-hour mark. After racing onto Miley's pass, the Murton-born teenager managed to fire home from an acute angle towards the byline to net his seventh goal of the 2023/24 campaign in all competitions.

Newcastle were fortunate to remain on level terms as Brown spilled Matthews' strike from the edge of the box before the ball eventually worked its way to Finch, who crashed a vicious strike off the underside of the bar.

Thompson, another to sign his first professional deal with the Magpies last summer, went close to netting his first goal nat under-21 level. After Alfie Harrison lifted the ball into the six-yard area following a corner, the Blyth-born defender's header cannoned off the woodwork.

Heffernan, who scored his first goal for United's second-string against Sunderland, almost doubled Newcastle's advantage as the Irish teenager's header from Amadou Diallo's in-swinging cross struck the inside of the right-hand post before an unbalanced Thompson fired his rebound wide of the target. 

Brown produced an important stop to prevent Aidan Bridge levelling before the half-time whistle, tipping the midfielder's goalbound strike from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar.

Crossley went close to extending United's lead further in the second-half as the 19-year-old forward capitalised on Jack Hannah's intended header to Connor and after attempting to round the goalkeeper, saw his resulting attempt blocked by the Boro 'keeper.

Brown carried out a key stop to deny Bridge after the midfielder left fly from distance, with the Ponteland-born goalkeeper beating the speculative drive over the bar.

Ellis Stanton, who joined United's youth set-up as an eight-year-old, went close to doubling Newcastle's advantage as the 19-year-old central midfielder drove forward before eventually drilling a fizzing shot towards goal, with Connor pushing the ball away.

In the 88th minute, Newcastle's hopes of back-to-back Premier League 2 wins were extinguished as Hannah drew the hosts level. After Bridge's in-swinging free-kick sailed into the box, Hannah was on hand to direct the ball into the left-hand corner.

With the full-time whistle nearing, Newcastle suffered a crushing blow as Willis sent Boro ahead as the left winger cut inside from the left flank before unleashing a powerful effort which flew into the right-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Will Brown, Rory Powell (Logan Watts 82), Ciaran Thompson, Cathal Heffernan (c), Dylan Charlton, Jamie Miley, Ellis Stanton, Alfie Harrison (Joe Brayson 90), Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo, Kyle Crossley (Jordan Hackett 82). 

Subs not used: Aidan Harris, Darren Palmer.