Half time: Bay 0 United 0

84mins Aarons shot 1-0

Full time: Bay 0 United 1

A fine late strike from Jamaican-born youngster Rolando Aarons was enough to send Newcastle reserves through to this season's Northumberland Senior Cup final at Whitley Bay's Hillheads Park.

18 year-old Aarons was rewarded for his lively display in the recent FA Youth Cup loss to Chelsea with a place in Saturday's first team squad at Fulham, and his well-hit effort illuminated what was otherwise a drab encounter.

Northern League Bay went in this tie unbeaten in their last five games following the replacement of long-serving manager Ian Chandler by temporary boss Leon Ryan.  

Ryan named himself in the starting lineup alongside Paul Chow, Craig McFarlane and Callum Anderson - who all featured for the Seahorses when they eliminated United at the same stage of this competition back in 2010.

And after a lack-lustre first half, the chance of a repeat giant-killing act remained - Whitley more than holding their own and coming to close to profiting from a good spell of pressure around the hour mark.

After Chow placed one effort narrowly wide, fellow forward Jarrett Rivers twice came close to hitting the target before a low centre from McFarlane travelled across the United six yard box - only to evade an unmarked Chow as he arrived at the back post. 

Newcastle's sole response came when birthday boy Michael Richardson broke into the box on 37 minutes before pulling the ball back for Alex Gilliead to place a first-time effort over the bar from close in.

Things hardly improved for a disjointed United following the break, Olivier Kemen appearing just before half time after injury halted Brandon Miele's comeback game - the midfielder having left the field in similar circumstances during December's Senior Cup tie at North Shields.

Bay custodian Michael Hammond wasn't called upon to make a save until he blocked a Callum Roberts shot after 75 minutes of play, by which time Newcastle's superior fitness was translating itself into increasing possession. 

With extra time looming large though, Aarons finally broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when he ran across the edge of the box before spotting his opportunity and smashing home an unstoppable great left-footed effort.

The Magpies will now face the winners of Tuesday's Ashington versus Blyth Spartans tie in the final at St. James' Park on Tuesday April 22nd at 7pm. 

Biffa