This was the first NSC Final since Morpeth Town defeated North Shields in 2019 - the competition not staged in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic.

Spartans v NUFC - NSCF history:

1924 NUFC Res 1 Blyth Spartans 0
1927 NUFC Res 10 Blyth Spartans 0
1931 NUFC Res 1 Blyth Spartans 0
1935 Blyth Spartans 2 NUFC Res 2 (Blyth won replay 2-1)
1995 NUFC Res 6 Blyth Spartans 2
1996 NUFC Res 3 Blyth Spartans 0
1999 NUFC Res 2 Blyth Spartans 1
2006 NUFC Res 2 Blyth Spartans 1
2008 NUFC Res 1 Blyth Spartans 1 (NUFC Res won 4-3 on penalties) 
2011 NUFC Res 4 Blyth Spartans 0
2014 NUFC Res 4 Blyth Spartans 0
2022 Blyth Spartans 3 NUFC Res 2
 

The U23s ended their season empty-handed on Thursday night, failing to recover a three-goal deficit against their National League North visitors in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup at St. James' Park.

Conceding goals has been a recurring problem for Elliot Dickman's side in PL2 this season and their generosity extended to this competition, with the defence breached three times in just 13 minutes tonight.

Blyth went ahead when JJ O'Donnell's cross from the right was headed home at the Gallowgate End by Sado Djalo in the 21st minute.

Robbie Dale's flag kick from the Strawberry Corner three minutes later was then palmed into his own net by Max Thompson under pressure from ex-Magpie Lewis McNall for an own goal - Dale claiming the goal on what is scheduled to be his penultimate game for the Spartans.

2-0 became 3-0 in the 33rd minute when another Dale corner from the Blyth left was played long; the unmarked Nathan Buddle burying a header at the back post.

United got one back five minutes after the break when Jay Turner-Cooke swept home a fine effort from the edge of the box.

Substitute Santiago Munoz then added another in the 69th minute, playing a neat one-two with Lucas De Bolle before flicking the ball beyond the 'keeper.

Blyth redoubled their efforts though and kept United at bay as a third home goal that would potentially take the tie to penalties never really looked likely.

Thompson kept the home side in the contest in the 76th minute with a fine save from Corey McKeown's rising shot, before O'Donnell headed straight at the 'keeper from close range.

Victory for Blyth ended a marathon wait for trophy success against Newcastle - this the first time since 1935 that they've beaten them in the Senior Cup Final and only the second time in a dozen meetings.

The bulk of this Spartans line-up inflicted a 3-0 friendly defeat on United in pre-season, while only two of the starting XI for the black and whites here kept their place from that night at Croft Park.

The names may have changed, but the feeling of underachievement remains - and virtually all of those involved tonight are set remain at the club, with most of those players released already dropping out of the squad.

Biffa