20mins Troisi shot 1-0

Half time: Newcastle 1 Whitley Bay 0

90mins Kerr free kick 1-1

Full time: Newcastle 1 Whitley Bay 1 

99mins Baheng shot 2-1

Half time (extra time): Newcastle 2 Whitley Bay 1

Full time (extra time): Newcastle 2 Whitley Bay 1

United booked their place in the Northumberland Senior Cup Final against Blyth Spartans, but Northern League  Bay took them to extra time before French-born Wesley Ngo Baheng struck his first Newcastle goal to win the tie.

Coach Adam Sadler handed Fabio Zamblera his first start for the club and the Italian youngster had a clear sight of goal after good work from Baheng on 16 minutes, only to snatch at his shot and put it wide.

Just four minutes later though and United were ahead, Baheng and Zamblera combining in the centre circle to set James Troisi away - the Australian advancing forward before sliding the ball under Bay 'keeper Terry Burke.

On the half hour that lead came close to being doubled when Baheng's effort was scrambled off the line.

And although Mark Doninger tried his luck from distance twice, Bay finished the half strongly and missed a great chance to level when Paul Chow lost his marker, only to head Lee Kerr's chipped cross from the right just wide.

A low-key second half saw speculative efforts from Baheng and Lough go wide, but the last quarter of an hour saw Whitley redouble their efforts to grab an equaliser.

The prolific Kerr popped up on 76 minutes, only to see his effort blocked after latching on to Paul Robinson's pass (not the ex-Newcastle Robbo).

And when Kerr's header was tipped over the crossbar by Soderberg in the last minute of normal time, United looked to have done just enough to keep Bay out - especially as the referee inexplicably failed to award a corner....

Kerr was not to be denied though and in added time rifled home a fine free kick from the edge of the area to force extra time and delight the Bay contingent among the healthy crowd at Blue Flames.

That was the 20 year-old's 29th strike of the season, equaling his tally for 2006/07, a year on from his brief appearance as a trialist in our reserve side.

Jonny Godsmark almost regained the lead for Newcastle in the opening seconds of extra time, only to be denied by Burke - who then repeated the feat three minutes later.

In between, Kerr's optimistic penalty appeal was refused as the play switched from end to end, but it was to be Wesley's first goal for the club that ultimately separated the sides - as he stretched to flick Troisi's through ball into the Whitley net from close range.

Still Whitley pressed and Soderberg did well to claim a first time shot from Chris Moore - one of two players in the Bay side with Senior Cup experience for Newcastle (Damon Robson being the other).

The second period of extra time saw Newcastle find acres of space in the middle of the park as Whitley began to be over-stretched.

However a frustrating amount of over-elaboration meant that a third clinching goal never came, Donaldson's solo run being the only time that Burke was called upon to make a save.

With 120 minutes gone, the Magpies were almost made to pay for their profligacy again - only the width of a post preventing Bay from forcing a penalty shootout.

A hard-fought win then against decent opposition, with Baheng deserving his goal for what was easily the best display of his eight reserve games for us to date.

And although he didn't score in the hour he was on the field, another runout for Zamblera will have given him some valuable experience of the physical style of English football, not to mention unsympathetic officials....

Details are awaited of a date and venue for the final, which see Spartans looking to end a run of seven losses at the final hurdle since they last claimed the trophy by beating Blue Star in 1994.

We have had the better of recent final meetings, winning in 1995 (6-2), 1996 (3-0), 1999 (2-1) & 2006 (2-1)  

Biffa

Reports