Newcastle United Res v Blyth Spartans (Match Preview)

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP FINAL

Venue: St. James' Park (NE1 4ST)
Date: Wednesday May 11, 2011
Kick Off: 7pm

Score Updates:-

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Admission Details:

Admission will be through the East Stand turnstiles only.
Adults - £5
Concessions - £2

- Exit the A1 at the A167 junction, signposted City (Centre), filtering left and following "City" signs for about 3 miles. Exit onto the B1318, signed City Centre North / Haymarket / University.
- Once on the slip road, take a right turn and then a left. Take another left at the next roundabout and keep driving past the Royal Victoria Infirmary which is on the right.
- Bear left passing through two sets of traffic lights and turning right after Baker and Stonehouse. The ground is on the right.

Sat-Navs: the postcode for the stadium is NE1 4ST.

Latest starting line-ups:

Newcastle United Reserves (2-0 v Ashington, April 20): Soderberg, Tavernier, Folan, McDermott, Henderson, McLaughlin, Richardson (Edmundsson 83), Inman, Sammy Ameobi, Airey, Donaldson. Subs not used: Grant, Miele, Ions, Jamie Smith.

Blyth Spartans (0-1 v Worcester, April 30): Blyth Spartans: Lowson, Groves, Buchanan, Tait, Swailes, White, Hooks, Turnbull, Brayson, O'Mahoney (Alexander), Dale. Subs not used: Cunningham and Cave

Newcastle United Reserves don't appear have any fresh injury worries, after Greg McDermott came through the Ashington game unscathed, following a recent foot injury. However, Haris Vuckic's long-term knee injury will keep the dangerous attacking-midfielder from appearing.

With an extended break of 10 days since the end of the Blue Square North campaign, manager Mick Tait should also have a full squad to select from.

However, Nicky Deverdics misses out on an appearance in the final, after leaving the club to join fellow former Spartan and Magpie Mark Doninger at Icelandic side ÍA Akranes.

Blyth will look to end their 17-year winless run in this competition when they walk out at St. James' Park.
Spartans have gone through a barren spell since Dave Hallam's solitary goal was enough to see off Blue Star in the 1994 final. Since then, they have finished runners-ups on eight occasions - five of those being against Wednesday night's opponents.

However, Blyth can take heart in the fact they ran out 4-1 winners against a Newcastle United XI side - featuring many of the players expected to feature in the final - in a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier in the season.

Newcastle United Reserves are the most successful side in this competition, winning it an impressive 31 times. Their last success came with a 4-0 rout of Ashington, back in 2009.

This tie is a repeat of the 2008 final, where Andrew Leeson's extra-time effort was cancelled out by a fantastic strike from Kazenga Lua Lua, before Newcastle emerged victorious in the penalty shootout.

Current captain Paul Brayson and defender Phil Cave will also have the added incentive of putting one over on their former club. Brayson is a two-time Senior Cup winner with Newcastle, while Cave was also a winner with the Magpies.

Peter Beardsley

The ex-midfielder/forward featured over 320 times for Newcastle in two spells at the club as a player. "Pedro" also represented England 59 times, helping them to the World Cup quarter-finals (1986) and semi-finals (1990.)

After hanging up his boots (and a spell as England assistant manager to Kevin Keegan) he joined the backroom staff at Newcastle and remained there until 2005.

The 50-year-old re-joined the club for a fourth time as Academy coach in March 2009, before being given the job of Reserve team manager 16 months later. Beardsley also briefly acted as caretaker manager for the first team, following Chris Hughton's departure earlier this season.

Phil Airey

The 19-year-old Amble-born striker has been in scintillating form all season netting 11 league goals in 13 appearances in his first season after making the step up from the Academy side that he joined back in 2008.

Airey then went one further when he was handed his first team debut - as a second half substitute - in the 3-1 FA Cup Third Round defeat against Stevenage Borough in January.

- Neither side has conceded a goal so far in this year's competition, (Magpies won 2-0 v Bedlington Terriers and 2-0 Ashington. Spartans beat North Shields 4-0 and Newcastle Benfield 2-0.)

Newcastle United Reserves:

- Unbeaten in four games, since a 2-1 reverse against Manchester United Reserves on March 21.
- Have only kept two clean sheets since the turn of the year.
- Failed to win back-to-back matches since October, when they beat Blackpool 3-2 and Bolton 4-1.

Blyth Spartans:

- This game will bring an end to Spartans' season, in their 50th match in all competitions.
- Spartans are without a win in their last six games and have also gone five games without scoring.
- They have not won a match since seeing off Newcastle Benfield in the Senior Cup semi-final on March 30.

Blyth Spartans 2-4 Newcastle United Reserves
Friendly
Attendance: 1,311
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Match Highlights

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Recent History

2009/10 - Friendly - Blyth Spartans 2-4 Newcastle United Reserves (Webster, McCabe)
2007/08 - NSC Final - Newcastle United Reserves 1-1 (Pens: 4-3) Blyth Spartans (Leeson)
2005/06 - NSC Final - Newcastle United Reserves 2-1 Blyth Spartans (McClen)
1998/99 - NSC Final - Newcastle United Reserves 2-1 Blyth Spartans (Lumsden)
1995/96 - NSC Final - Newcastle United Reserves 3-0 Blyth Spartans
1994/95 - NSC Final - Newcastle United Reserves 6-2 Blyth Spartans (Pearson, Pyle)

Paul Brayson - (Blyth Spartans, 2009-present) & (Newcastle United, 1995-1998)
Phil Cave - (Blyth Spartans 2010-present) & (Newcastle United, 2003-2007)
Alan Shoulder - (Blyth Spartans, 1977-1978) & (Newcastle United, 1978-1982)
Steve Carney - (Blyth Spartans, 1978-1979) & (Newcastle United, 1979-1985)
Terry Johnson - (Blyth Spartans, 1970s) & (Newcastle United, 1960s-1971)
Adam Bartlett - (Blyth Spartans, 2005-2008) & (Newcastle United, 1995-2005)
Callum Morris (Blyth Spartans, 2010-2011) & (Newcastle United 2006-2010)
Nicky Deverdics - (Blyth Spartans, 2010-2011) & (Newcastle United, 2004-2006)

Referee: David McCallum

Assistants: Paul Brown & Elliott Heward

Fourth Official: Terence Phillips

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