Squad Don so well to beat Balby
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TYNEMET moved into the last eight of the ECFA Cat One League play-offs for the first time with a 4-1 victory at Doncaster’s Balby Carr Academy.
Balby Carr boasted an impressive record of only one defeat in 14 league games as they topped their group.
Tyne Met made the latter stages of the competition with a third-placed finish in their section after an impressive run of four consecutive wins against Leeds (twice), Monkseaton Academy and Gateshead College.
The North Tynesiders started the game very well and had a goal harshly ruled out for offside when Cam Cunningham finished off a flowing move but was denied by the assistant’s flag.
However, on 20 minutes the first goal arrived when a Cunningham corner was bundled in by Paul Van-Zandvliet.
It was nearly two a few minutes later when Cunningham beat two men and pulled the ball back for Lewis Mishner - but his shot was cleared off the line.
Cunningham was causing problems and his superb deep cross fell right on to the head of Regan Paterson, who nodded home from six yards for 2-0.
It was 3-0 on 34 minutes when a well-worked corner gave Cunningham a deserved counter with a low, left-footed drive.
A shell-shocked home side was powerless to prevent a fourth when Ryan Wilson’s free-kick was floated into the box and, with the goalkeeper flapping, Paterson headed his second for 4-0.
It could have been even more emphatic when Ben Gaffney drove against the crossbar just before half-time.
The second period was a quieter affair but midway through the home side claimed a consolation with a scrappy effort.
Coach Marc Nash said: “I was delighted as we went in as underdogs but showed the quality we have. Some of our lads were unplayable in the first half.”