Academy and Saints are big news in final!
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
MONKSEATON Academy and St Cuthbert’s hope to hit the headlines next week - by securing cup glory, writes TONY HODGSON.
The two squads teams meet at Newcastle University’s Cochrane Park on Tuesday (6.00) in the final of the ChronicleLive Under-19 Cup.
Monkseaton are the defending champions, having beaten Whitley Bay High School in last year’s decider.
In this year’s competition, they enjoyed a bye in the first round before overcoming Churchill Community College (4-0), Northumberland Church of England Academy (9-0) and Morpeth (7-1) on their way to the final.
The North Tynesiders also reached the final of the prestigious FA Under-18 National Elite Trophy earlier this month, losing narrowly 2-1 to Hartbury College.
They have also won the English Colleges Premier League for the fifth time in the past six years. Monkseaton joint manager Lee Picton said: “It has been another great season for the lads and they want to end it in style by winning the Chronicle Cup.
“It is a great competition and we have won it nine times in the past 11 seasons, a record we are very proud of.
“The lads are confident of success but that does not mean we will underestimate St Cuthbert’s.
“There has always been a great rivalry between them and us and I am sure that will continue next week.”
Newcastle-based St Cuthbert’s began their cup campaign with 4-0 and 3-1 victories over Walker and St Benet Biscop respectively.
They then edged out Newcastle Royal Grammar School 4-3 in the last eight and defeated Walbottle 4-0 in the semi-finals.
Saints had a mixed start to the 2016/17 campaign in which they made it through to the knockout phases of the under-19 seven-a-side tournament but were then slow to make any progress in their opening National Cup fixtures.
After that a number of year 11 students were brought into the squad and as result it started to make good progress in a number of cup competitions.
Saints were narrowly defeated in the City Cup semi-final against Gosforth and were unlucky not to advance into the last four of the TSSA Cup against Hexham.
St Cuthbert’s manager Will Hogg said: “We know what a great team Monkseaton are and we are under no illusions about the size of task we face.
“However, we go into the match full of confidence and it is all about who performs well on the day and who wants it more.
“Our team consists of year 11, year 12 and year 13 players so it is quite a mix.
“We are all looking forward to the final of what is a very prestigious competition.”
It will be a busy night for Hogg as his under-13s side is also in action at Cochrane Park in the final of the Under-13 Dawson County Cup.
St Cuthbert’s take on hot favourites Ashington.
They overcame the Saints during their run to the semi-finals of the National Cup.
The match kicks off at 5.00 and Hogg selects from: Luke Majmudar. Gary Gair, Jack Murphy, Thomas Brennan, Aaron Power, Joseph Gibson, Cole Stanton, Michael Ndiweni, Marcus Gabrielle, Mauro Asikaogu, Luca Damiani, Afonso Lindo, Jose Baptista. Michael Appleton and Joseph James.