Despite a valiant effort from an Ashington side containing a sprinkling of Toon old boys, United's second string deservedly booked their place in this season's Senior Cup Final on Wednesday night. 

The visitors wore their usual black and white and Newcastle donned their blue change kit for the tie at Northumberland FA's Whitley Park ground - with a pitch showing signs of wear at this late point in the season.

One unfamiliar name in the United squad was substitute goalkeeper Aiden Grant, who was drafted in from the U16 side, Jak Alnwick having played for the U18 side earlier in the day. Ashington meanwhile included former Magpies James Taylor, Darren Lough, Liam Atkin and Jonny Godsmark in  their starting XI, while Paul Dunn was an unused substitute. 

It took 19 minutes for either side to muster a chance of note, with Colliers 'keeper Karl Dryden doing well to tip a curling shot from Brad Inman round the post. At the other end referee Scott Duncan was unmoved by penalty claims for a handball after 33 minutes and the sides went into the break with the tie still goalless and with the Northern League side well in contention.

As is invariably the case however, the full time lads began to stamp their authority on the game and broke the deadlock seven minutes after the break. A well-worked move began when Ryan Donaldson crossed from the left and found Michael Richardson on the edge of the Ashington area. He controlled the ball and threaded a pass through to Brad Inman, who finished powerfully.

Undaunted, Ashington came close to an equaliser on 59 minutes, when ex-Magpie Darren Lough broke into the box and tested Ole Soderberg with a fierce shot. Within a minute however the tie was heading the way of the home side, after United broke upfield and Michael Richardson converted with a well-taken volley.

Further Newcastle goals could have followed, with Phil Airey, Sam Ameobi, James Tavernier and Donaldson all trying their luck but failing to find the target. The Colliers continued to push forward in search of a consolation goal and came agonisingly close to doing so after 89 minutes, when Phil Bell brought an acrobatic point-blank stop from Soderberg.

It's Peter Beardsley's side who will contest the final at St.James' Park next month though, when they face Blyth Spartans. The team from Croft Park last won the Senior Cup back in 1994, since when they've lost no less than eight finals - five of them to the Magpies.  

Biffa

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