The young Magpies fell behind in their Group B encounter at Vale Park following Jesse Debrah’s close-range finish, reacting quickest to a loose ball following Ethan Chislett’s inviting corner before firing home.

Ellis Stanton’s impressive 90th minute strike drew the visitors level but Newcastle's youngsters were unable to secure an additional point to maintain their qualification hopes as Stanton, Kyle Crossley and Michael Ndiweni all saw their spot-kicks saved despite Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris denying Jack Shorrock and Rhys Walters in the shoot-out.

Following Wrexham’s 3-0 away win at Crewe Alexandra in the respective group clash, Newcastle’s second-string are now unable to progress into the knockout stages and will end their 2023/24 campaign in this year's competition with an away trip to League Two Crewe next month.

With a number of Magpies youngsters away on international duty this week, Ben Dawson made four changes from the starting XI which claimed a 2-2 draw against Fleetwood Town in the Premier League Cup on Saturday as 16-year-old Harris, named on the Magpies’ bench for their UEFA Champions League clash at AC Milan in September, began in-between the sticks.

Amadou Diallo, who travelled with United’s first-team for their 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham United last weekend, was also handed a start as well as Blyth-born defender Ciaran Thompson and Charlie Wiggett.

Aiming to move level on points with the League One outfit with a victory at Vale Park, Harris was forced into action in the opening stages as the Houghton le Spring-born goalkeeper held Chislett’s low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

In front of 1,197 spectators, Newcastle’s youngsters fell behind in the 17th minute as Debrah opened the scoring for the two-time EFL Trophy winners. After Chislett’s in-swinging corner failed to be cleared inside a crowded penalty area, Debrah was on hand to stab the ball into the left-hand corner.

Despite their setback, United’s youngsters responded brightly and were unfortunate not to draw level through Dylan Stephenson. After Shorrock’s intended header to Jayson Leutweiler was lifted over the Vale goalkeeper, the Blyth-born striker pounced on the defender’s error but could only steer his effort wide of the left-hand post.

Harris was on hand to prevent Vale doubling their advantage after Gavin Massey’s deft flick from Garrity’s teasing low cross forced the teenage shot-stopper into getting down low to hold the goal bound effort.

Newcastle almost suffered a tough blow on the stroke of half-time as another inviting delivery from Chislett was headed towards by Garrity, with the ball taking a crucial deflection before flying over the bar.

Harris produced a key stop to deny Garrity after the restart, with the Vale winger’s powerful drive inside the box beaten away by the goalkeeper’s strong left hand.

Diallo created United’s first shot on target during the cup clash after the 20-year-old winger, who plays primarily on the left, raced onto Remi Savage’s lofted pass but the London-born youngster’s low drive at goal was comfortably held by Leutwiler.

In the 90th minute, Stanton netted an impressive first goal at under-21 level. After the central midfielder controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area, the 18-year-old’s ferocious drive flew into the bottom right-hand corner, taking the contest to a penalty shoot-out.

After Diallo and Garrity both converted the side's opening penalties, Stanton saw his effort from 12 yards tipped onto the crossbar by Leutwiler before Crossley’s attempt, United’s third spot-kick of the evening, was held by the Vale shot-stopper.

Harris produced two successive stops, diving low to deny Shorrock and Walters to give United a lifeline whilst James Huntley cooly converted for the visitors.

However, Ndwieni’s following penalty was saved by Leutwiler, guessing the correct way to deny the Throckley-born striker before Mitch Clark stroked home the winning penalty to the disappointment of the United squad.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Charlie Wiggett, Ciaran Thompson, Remi Savage, Josh Scott (Dylan Charlton 46), Nathan Carlyon (James Huntley 72), Jamie Miley (c), Lucas De Bolle (Ellis Stanton 72), Ben Parkinson (Kyle Crossley 57), Amadou Diallo, Dylan Stephenson (Michael Ndiweni 84).

Subs not used: Tyler Jones, Rory Powell.