Nott the best of Cup days for North’s lads

NORTHUMBERLAND FA were knocked out of the FA County Youth Cup – goals from Josh Randall (2) and Jack March securing a 3-0 win for Nottinghamshire FA, writes DAN SIMMONITE.

North dominated possession in the early stages and nearly opened the scoring just moments into the game, Josh Skivington grazing the bar with an effort from distance.

The home side then created an array of chances down the right wing, Sam Dibb-Fuller narrowly off target on 15 minutes followed by an almost identical chance moments later – the winger firing wide under pressure from a defender.

Frustrations grew, though, as North failed to take their chances in the final third.

Notts scrambled to keep the score level in the latter stages of the first half, Aaron Lough heading the ball on for Louis Calvert - only for the Newcastle City forward to volley over the bar from just a few yards out.

This opened up an opportunity for the visitors on 42 minutes goalkeeper Liam Renwick called into action for the first time to deny Josh Randall from close range.

The break gave Notts time to devise a fresh approach – the away side striking first courtesy of a point-blank Jack March header after a cross to the back post from his Rainworth teammate Randall.

North heads dropped and Notts capitalised just minutes after opening the scoring – Randall curling in a sublime free-kick to double his team’s advantage.

North chances were few and far between in the final 45 minutes.

Dibb-Fuller tried his best to bulldozer his way through with a solo run but the impressive Notts defence stopped the Prudhoe player in his tracks.

The third goal proved the final nail in the coffin for Kane Wears’ squad - Randall dribbling his way through a crowded penalty area and placing the ball into the bottom corner on 70 minutes.

It was a long final 20 minutes for North to prevent any further embarrassment, Notts’ substitute Dennis Nittus going close on a number of occasions.

Northumberland FA: Renwick, Kalthoeber, Woods, Pickard, Christie, Walker, Lough, Calvert, Dibb-Fuller, Skivington, Ward. Subs: Symonds, Wilson, Anderson, Proudlock, Statt.