United secured a place in this season's Northumberland Senior Cup Final after defeating their Northern League opponents at a misty Whitley Park on Tuesday night.

However Benfield pushed them all the way and the side who went into this tie unbeaten in their last seventeen matches shocked their hosts by taking an early lead.

Magpies 'keeper Fraser Forster made an ill-advised excursion from his goal line on nine minutes, and could only watch as Ian Graham took possession, dummied Darren Lough and shot home into the unguarded net.

That goal failed to trigger any positive response from a sluggish United, with Benfield 'keeper Andrew Grainger never seriously tested.

But with changes to the starting XI expected and a half time dressing down from coach Richard Money in the offing, Wesley Ngo Baheng popped up to sweep home a 42nd minute leveller after Benfield failed to clear the ball.

United were in front for the first time seven minutes after the restart, after Jonny Godsmark was allowed to advance down the right flank before pulling the ball infield.

It fell nicely for Mark Doninger and the midfielder picked his spot, registering his eighth goal in seven outings with a low drive from 20 yards that found the bottom corner.

Further goals should have followed for United in front of a watching Alan Shearer but with striker Nile Ranger failing to see sight of goal, some poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Grainger kept Benfield in the hunt.

An uncomfortable night for Fraser Forster saw him under pressure twice in the closing stages of the game, as Benfield in their orange shirts loomed out of the mists in search of an equaliser.

None came though and the Magpies face Ashington in the final, scheduled for SJP at 7pm on Tuesday May 12th. The Colliers have made it to this stage for the first time since defeating Heaton Stannington back in 1980.

PS: One casualty of the evening was a smashed window in the Whitley Park tea bar, shattered by a stray clearance from a Newcastle boot in the second half.

Biffa

Reports