Alex O'Donovan's header fired Newcastle ahead at the Magpies' Little Benton Academy before Samuel Alker's close-range finish swiftly levelled the clash before the half-hour mark.

Jack Callaghan restored Newcastle's lead within the opening 20 seconds of the restart, the 17-year-old winger's first league goal at under-18 level, before O'Donovan netted his second goal of the game shortly after the hour mark.

Ollie Pickles set up a nervy finale after pulling a goal back in the final stages but Newcastle's youngsters held firm to record a fifth consecutive home win, sealing third place in the table with a game to spare.

Newcastle went close to taking an early lead as Callaghan raced onto Muawiya Ghanem's excellent pass in-behind the Leeds defence before his first-time effort was turned out for a corner by goalkeeper Oliver Wood.

The hosts were fortunate to remain on level terms shortly after as Carrick Njinko's dangerous attempt from the edge of the box struck the base of the left-hand post.

Newcastle took the lead in the 24th minute through O'Donovan as the attacking midfielder rose high from Matheos Ferreira's inviting cross from the byline before heading the ball into the right-hand corner.

Their lead lasted for three minutes, though, as Alker equalised for Leeds, firing home from Njinko's low cutback on the right flank.

The young Magpies got off to a flying start in the second-half as Callaghan restored Newcastle's one-goal cushion, racing onto Kacey Wooster's through pass before finishing across the 'keeper into the bottom corner.

In the 63rd minute, O'Donovan grabbed his brace as the South Shields-born youngster got onto the end of Wooster's low cross from the right wing before firing into the roof of the net.

Leeds halved the deficit in the 90th minute through Pickles as the Whites substitute got onto Njinko's cutback at the back post before tapping the ball into the net.

Chris Moore's side conclude their 2025/26 Under-18 Premier League North campaign on Saturday 9 May when facing an away clash against Middlesbrough [kick-off 11am BST].

A victory against their Boro counterparts would see our under-18s eclipse their highest points tally since the 2013/14 campaign [47].

Newcastle United Under-18s: Oliver Holland, Henry Johnson (c), Luke Gilligan, Aaron Epia, Lesecond Yeutembip (Thomas Old 45), Matthew Taylor (Jayden Kouossu 77), Jack Callaghan, Muawiya Ghanem, Kacey Wooster (Alfie Hutchison 71), Alex O'Donovan, Matheos Ferreira (Alfie Seldon 71).

Subs not used: Lucas Flack.