Northern Ireland Under-21 manager Steve Beaglehole saw his side carved apart in this European Championship qualifier at Coleraine Showgrounds.

He was looking for his young charges to bounce back after losing to the Czech Republic in their opening game.

Instead the province were 4-0 down at half-time with Iceland clinical in front of goal.

The only consolation for Beaglehole was the second half performance of substitute Josh Magennis, who scored brace.

It might have been different for Northern Ireland if Billy McKay had not squandered a chance in the fourth minute when he dragged his shot wide from a good position.

They were then rocked back on their heels in the 14th minute following a rash challenge by Shane Duffy on Rurik Gislasson.

Bjarni Vidarsson converted the penalty, only for the home side to respond. Michael Carvill and Josh McQuoid both having good efforts tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Iceland, however, extended their lead in the 32nd minute when Johann Gudmundsson drilled a low shot beyond Trevor Carson.

And it got worse for the province before half-time with Alfred Finnbogason in the 42nd minute and Gislason two minutes later also finding the target.

To their credit Northern Ireland showed good spirit at the start of the second half and the livewire Magennis saw his shot turned over the top.

Iceland, however, went further ahead in the 57th minute with Gudmundsson finding the target.

A minute later Northern Ireland pulled a goal back through Magennis, only for Gislason to make it 6-1.

However Magennis had the last word, scoring his second of the game in the 75th minute to conclude the goal action.