Boy, what a Cup victory!
A FIVE-STAR DISPLAY BY NSB SQUAD SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
NEWCASTLE School for Boys defeated Royal Grammar School 5-0 in the final of the Under-16 Evening Chronicle City Cup at Walker Riverside Academy.
There was a slow start to the game and the only early chance fell to Newcastle when James Harper had his close-range effort saved by Nathan Gough.
Royal Grammar exerted pressure when they looked dangerous from corners and they forced Newcastle’s goalkeeper Max Metcalfe to claw the ball away twice in quick succession.
Oliver Mullarkey went on a mazy run and his long-range effort was plucked out of the air by Gough.
Royal Grammar responded when Max Kilburn went down the right flank and crossed for Harry Stephenson at the front post - but the ball became tangled between his legs and went out for a goal kick.
The second period started off the same as the first half, NSB trying to break down Royal Grammar.
After two good chances, Newcastle finally took the lead when Bobby Johnson strode forward from midfield and unleashed a vicious shot from outside the box.
Gough seemed to have it covered but the ball hit the top of a RGS defender’s head and looped over Gough and into the net.
Newcastle nearly went 2-0 up when Gough got his hands to a point-blank shot and Stephenson headed the ball off the line.
The pressure finally began to tell and a mazy run by Zac Munir saw him pull the ball back for Will Varley to nudge the ball home for the second goal.
Royal Grammar were nearly back in the game when Kilburn broke down the right and crossed to the back post for Vinnie Styles but he fired past the post.
Newcastle’s third counter came when Munir tucked the ball away from close range.
The fourth quickly followed when Johnson’s shot was fumbled and Harper stole in to score.
The fifth and final goal came just before the end when Johnson found space and drilled home to seal the trophy for NSB.