United secured  a comfortable win to resume custody of the Senior Cup trophy after a one year break. The margin of victory could have been far greater against a Spartans side who showed little sign of ending their poor run in this competition, this their ninth successive losing final appearance.

With the visitors allowing United plenty space to knock the ball around from the off, goals looked inevitable and Ryan Donaldson tried his luck after five minutes but succeeded only in winning a corner kick at the Leazes End.

Donaldson then turned provider in the 17th minute when his cross from the left deflected off a defender and fell nicely for Michael Richardson to knock home from six yards. That provoked Blyth into mounting a couple of dangerous-looking attacks, but neither Robbie Dale nor Magpies old boy Paul Brayson could find a shot that tested 'keeper Ole Soderberg.

At the other end United came close to extending their advantage as long-range efforts from Phil Airey and Sam Ameobi weren't too far away. However defender James Tavernier showed them the way just after the half hour, cutting infield before unleashing a 25-yarder that whistled past Spartans 'keeper, Dan Lowson (although it was later confirmed to have taken a slight deflection). 

The last Senior Cup Final meeting of these two sides had required penalties in order to achieve a result back in 2008, but any interest that Mick Tait's boys had in this competition ended when striker John Alexander burst into the United box but drove his shot high and wide.

Within two minutes the home side were out of sight, when Donaldson strode forward in possession before slipping the ball to Phil Airey for the United striker to convert with a low angled shot.

United looked in the mood for more goals after the restart and Sammy Ameobi saw his 49th minute header rebound back off a post and Lowson tip Greg McDermott's attempt over two minutes later. However that early promise faded and a trio of replacements arrived after the hour mark in an attempt to freshen up the team.  

That caused an onfield reshuffle, with Michael Riley arriving to slot in at left back, releasing Tavernier to partner Jeff Henderson in central defence. Patrick Nzuzi meanwhile appeared and relieved McDermott at right back, allowing him to resume in a more familiar midfield role. 

Faroe Islander Joan Edmundsson was the third incomer and his first meaningful contribution was to try his luck with a low 75th minute effort that was deflected for a corner. With three minutes though, Edmundsson had registered an assist, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the Blyth box and feeding Airey on the right of the area to finished with a fierce effort into the roof of the net.

The Northumbrian-born striker had two late chances to complete his treble, but Lowson stood firm to block efforts on 83 and 89 minutes and Nzuzi swiped the last half-chance of the game wide. United Captain Paddy McLaughlin then collected the trophy - the 32nd such success for the club (although they haven't competed in every season since it was first established in 1884). 

Biffa

Reports