25 mins Stephenson shot 1-0

Half time: Ashington 0 Newcastle U21s 1

65 mins Turner-Cooke shot 2-0

67 mins Maguire shot 2-1

Full time: Ashington 1 Newcastle U21s 2

Goals from Dylan Stephenson and Jay-Turner Cooke gave United U21s victory in their Northumberland Senior Cup semi-final against Ashington on Thursday night.

In front of a record attendance at Woodhorn Lane, the Northern Premier League hosts made all of the early running but were unable to convert two presentable opportunities to go ahead.

Just two minutes from the first whistle, Wilson Kneeshaw put his close-range shot wide of the target and Connor Thomson bore down on goal after 17 minutes, but could only fire into the side netting.

Little had been seen of the green-clad Magpies as an attacking force before an excellent through ball from Lucas De Bolle set Stephenson away in the 25th minute - and he beat Ross Coombe with an unerring finish for 1-0.

The opening half ended with a brief scuffle on the field between the sides stemming from an earlier claim by Ashington that United's Amadou Diallo had elbowed Karl Ross in an off-the-ball incident.

Following an uneventful start to the second period, United looked to have settled the tie on 65 minutes when Turner-Cooke flighted home a fine free kick from the edge of the area.

However the two goal advantage lasted barely two minutes before a tricky run from Kneeshaw ended with Dan Maguire netting for the Colliers via a post.

Concerted pressure from Ashington failed to yield an equaliser and send the tie into a penalty shootout; Kneeshaw seeing his shot charged down late on.  

Ben Dawson's side will now face Northern League Division Two champions Blyth Town in the final at Gallowgate on Tuesday, May 14th (7.30pm).

Biffa