United Book Place In Senior Cup Final
NEWCASTLE UNITED RES 2
NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 1
Northumberland Senior Cup Semi-Final
Whitley Park
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Kick-off 7pm
ALAN Shearer was among the crowd as Newcastle United Reserves booked their place in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle Benfield at Whitley Park.
The Magpie boss was joined at the North Tyneside venue by coaches Iain Dowie, Chris Huhgton and Colin Calderwood, as well as senior star Alan Smith.
Teenage striker Nile Ranger, an unused substitute during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stoke, was included in a young United side which was second best to their Northern League opponents during the early exchanges.
And it was Benfield who seized an early lead when goalkeeper Fraser Forster was undone by an untimely bobble as he rushed to the edge of his area to clear allowing Ian Graham to nick in and score on 14 minutes.
The visitors were more than a match for United for the majority of the opening period and only Mark Doninger, with a speculative effort from range, and Ranger, with a 12-yard header, came close to restoring parity before Wesley Ngo Baheng struck four minutes before the break.
Seizing upon a blocked clearance after good work from strike partner Ranger, the French forward burst in on goal before tucking under on-rushing stopper Andrew Grainger.
Seven minutes into the second period and the hosts had their noses in front as Jonny Godsmark squared for supporting midfielder Doninger to steer low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Richard Money's side were in control thereafter and Godsmark should have extended the lead on 73 minutes only to be thwarted by keeper Grainger when through on goal.
James Tavernier then flashed a close-ranger header over the crossbar after Doninger had cushioned Godsmark's centre into the path of the front-running defender.
United now face Ashington in the final of the competition at St.James' Park next month.
