There was a competitive U21 debut for Kyle Fitzgerald, who featured at this level in pre-season.

Also making an U21 bow was Luke Craggs.  

The U21s saw their hopes of retaining the Northumberland Senior Cup end at the semi-final stage on Tuesday, when they were deservedly eliminated by their Northern Premier League East hosts.

1,652 fans were at Grounsell Park for a one-sided encounter in which United failed to provide any threat with a full compliment of players and were fortunate not to lose by a greater margin after going down to ten men.

The visitors were without a trio of forwards: Sean Neave on first team duty the previous night, Josh Donaldson out and Ben Parkinson working his way back to fitness.

With Garang Kuol also omitted, Newcastle seldom enjoyed possession in the final third of the field and never recovered from falling behind as the hosts threatened from a series of set pieces.  

Stan took a 15th minute lead through Leighton Hopper, before two bookings for Scott Bailey resulted in a red card for the midfielder just on half time, although the second caution seemed unwarranted.

Bailey Adamson smashed home a shot to double the lead just after the hour before substitute Alfie Marriott fired in a late third to confirm Newcastle's heaviest defeat in this competition since 2004.

Stan will face Morpeth Town in the Senior Cup final at SJP on a date yet to be confirmed.

Biffa