Newcastle Town 0-5 Blues

Challenge Cup Semi-final

22/4/01

Junior Blues won their way through to their second cup final of the season at the expense of rivals Newcastle Town. Apart from one or two nervous moments in the opening exchanges, they were seldom troubled, and ran out worthy winners.

Both sides had chances to open the scoring, early on, but the best chance fell to the home side on eight minutes. A well-worked move down Blues' left flank created a great opportunity for 'Castle, but fortunately for Blues, the shot was blazed well over. At the other end, Newcastle also rode their luck, as firstly one was cleared off the line from Oliver Edward's shot, and then Gareth Allott's shot hit an upright.

It was beginning to look like one of those days for Blues, as they failed to capitalise on their chances, and as if to emphasise this, they missed a penalty on 15 minutes.

However, the miss did not prove costly, for within a minute, Sam Hall's found Jamie Robinson and he scored with the sort of clinical finish that has been missing from Blues' play in recent weeks. Both sides battled their way through the mud, but with the vital first goal behind them, Blues began to take control of the game.

Their supremacy eventually paid off with five minutes of the first half left, when the keeper failed to gather a cross and Jamie Robinson tucked away the loose ball.

Within a minute of the second goal, Sam Hall's long range effort reduced the keeper to the role of spectator, as his shot thundered off the bar, and away to safety.

Blues dominance continued into the second half, and but for some excellent defending by Newcastle they would have scored many more. As it was they had to be content with another three.

The Newcastle defence was unable to come to terms with Matt Anderson's trickery on the ball, and when he was brought down on the edge of the box, up stepped Sam Hall. This time the bar didn't get in the way, and his free kick rifled into the back of the net.

Oliver Edwards scored number four after his superb dummy fooled the Newcastle defenders giving him the time to pick his spot, and he scored his second when good work by Tom Bourne gave him an easy chance.

Given the conditions of the pitch, this was a pleasing performance by Blues against a hard working Newcastle team. They will now meet Maybank Rovers in both cup finals, early next month, played appropriately at Harrison Park.

Once again, we are grateful to Protech Electricals and The Britannia Building Society for their sponsorship.