Ndiweni leaves it late to grab a winner for Saints
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
THE Under-13 County Cup semifinal between St Cuthbert’s and St Mary’s proved a riveting game.
Despite the strong wind, both teams tried to keep the ball on the ground and pass it around.
St Cuthbert’s went close when Gary Gair blazed a good chance over the bar.
It was St Mary’s, however, who drew first blood when Liam Gardner clipped the ball past a stranded Mauro Asikaogu in goal.
St Mary’s nearly went two up when a cross went through Asikaogu’s legs - only for the ball to go right across the six-yard box with no-one able to turn it in.
Just before half-time, St Cuthbert’s equalised when a Michael Appleton corner was headed in by Jose Baptiste.
In the second period Cuthbert’s started to get on top, Michael Appleton and Luke Majmudaqr dominating the centre of midfield and Marcus Gabrielle making marauding runs down the right flank.
Fine work by Joe Ferguson in goal and Vitalis Nyekela in the centre of defence kept Cuthbert’s at bay.
Ferguson made a fine save from substitute Michael Ndiweni and Ndiweni went close again when he hit the inside of the post - only for it to bounce out.
While it was all square St Mary’s were still in the game and they tried to catch St Cuthbert’s on the break.
With around five minutes to go St Cuthbert’s earned the break they were looking for when Ferguson spilled a cross and Ndiweni pounced on it to turn it home for the winning goal.
St Cuthbert’s will now play Ashington in the final on Tuesday, May 2 at Cochrane Park (5.00).
GREATER Manchester have withdrawn from the Northern Counties Under-18 Cup - which means Northumberland will visit South Yorkshire in the final.
The date and venue of the match are yet to be confirmed.
NEWCASTLE Under-15 Girls were involved in a great match against Derwentside/Chester-leStreet and Washington.
Honours were even in the first half , which ended 0-0.
In the second period Newcastle began to dominate possession but it was the away team who broke away and won a penaltywhen their centre-forward was brought down in the box.
The kicker placed it in the lefthand side of the goal but Latisha Fowler was able to get across and make a fabulous save.
Newcastle’s pressure finally paid off when Jayden Maxwell’s cross shot evaded the goalkeeper to register the winning goal.