United U23s began their defence of the Northumberland Senior Cup in emphatic style on Tuesday - aided by their National League North opponents opting to field a weakened side in this competition.

In the same competition a year ago, Blyth made a raft of changes to their side and were beaten 2-8 by Morpeth Town - history almost repeating itself at Whitley Park.

This time round, former Magpie reserve Alun Armstrong chose to rest his players in the wake of last weekend's effort-laden FA Trophy loss at Leyton Orient and with one eye on Saturday's league tussle against Darlington - a potentially vital afternoon in the race for a promotion playoff place.

Magpies coach Ben Dawson had selection issues of his own, having seen a handful of his players depart on loan last month - including top scorers Elias Sorensen and Callum Roberts, who between them had netted 31 times in league and cup games this season.

However that opened the door for other players to show their prowess, forward Yannick Toure, wideman Rosaire Longelo and attacking midfielder Juan Cumbreras in the first eleven instead of substitute selections.

And while Victor Fernandez and Lewis McNall remain sidelined, there were comebacks from injury for both Lewis Cass and Tyrique Bartlett - while Adam Wilson was spotted taking part in the warm-up, although not included in the matchday squad.

Although Blyth had an early shooting chance, the opening goal arrived on seven minutes when Toure easily converted a low cross from the right by Cass. Rich pickings down that flank for United then saw Cumbreras, Toure and Kelland Watts all net in rapid succession as the hosts ran riot.

Cumbreras got his goal on 16 minutes when Rosaire Longelo centred from the right for the Spaniard to knock home a mirror image of the opener. And within a minute the visitors were caught napping completely and the unmarked Toure almost apologetically shot home from Longstaff's through ball.

Just 60 seconds later it was 4-0 when Watts had time to pick his spot from the edge of the box.

Blyth pulled one back in the 22nd minute when Bradley Fewster tucked away a cross from former Magpie Jamie Holmes but a minute later United had a fifth when Longelo took the ball on his chest and volleyed in from just inside the box. 

Two minutes before the break Blyth got their second when Adam Wrightson got into the box from the right and fed Fewster who netted again.

The early stages of the second half saw United create but waste a trio of chances, with Toure and substitute Luke Charman missing the target and the latter denied by Bradley Skirpan's acrobatics.

Further home goals did arrive though, Watts headed in from close range following a corner for his second and United's sixth. Skirpan then equal to shots from Olly Walters and Cumbreras, but Watts completed his hat-trick in the final seconds after a ball to the back post was nodded into his path.

The tie ended 7-2 - matching last season's Senior Cup Quarter Final at the same venue, when the now defunct Blyth AFC were beaten by that same score.

Biffa