Gos lads going Madd after a Cup triumph
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
DESPITE the bad weather the first of this season’s Newcastle Schools City Cup finals was decided.
At Newcastle United Academy, Gosforth Junior Academy and Royal Grammar Junior School faced each other for the right to claim the Under-11 Bob Maddison Cup.
Gosforth emerged the 4-0 winners to become city champions for the first time.
Both sides had come through difficult semi-finals and honours were even in the first ten minutes.
Royal Grammar’s Rory Linkleter had a long range shot comfortably saved by Shay Underwood in goal for Gosforth.
Harry Millington had the best chance when he ghosted into the back-post area but he failed to score from a Matthew Todd cross.
Todd also forced William Jones into a great save.
Royal hit back and nearly took the lead when Linklater broke through the defence but saw his effort saved by Underwood.
The ball rebounded to Ayaan Ahmad and his shot was stopped on the line by a defender -only for the ball to drop to Linklater, who proceeded to hit the crossbar with his effort.
This sparked Gosforth into action and Charlie Dewar started to dominate the midfield and drive his team forward.
Dewar beat two players in the middle and found Todd with a perfect pass and he raced through to score the opener.
Two minutes later the same duo did it again, Todd latching on to a through ball from Dewar for 2-0.
A few minutes later he registered his hat-trick and Gosforth’s third.
Todd was to turn provider when his pass found Frazer Forrest in the middle and he coolly slotted home for Gosforth’s fourth.
In the second period Royal Grammar had it all to do but they started brightly, forcing Underwood into action on two occasions.
Gradually Gosforth got back on top, though, and Max Campbell forced a good save from Jones.
Campbell then put Thomas O’Hagen through but his shot hit the post as Gosforth comfortably saw the game out.
The rest of the Newcastle City Cup finals take place next week with all the action at Newcastle University’s Longbenton Sports Ground.
On Monday the under-19s, under-14s and under-13s are in action.
In the under-19 decider, Royal Grammar School take on Heaton Manor.
In the under-15 final Newcastle School for Boys play St Mary’s and in the under-13 showdown St Cuthbert‘s face either St Mary’s or Gosforth Junior Academy. All the action starts at 4.15.
On Wednesday St Cuthbert’s meet Gosforth in the under-14 final.
Gosforth Central Middle School are up against Royal Grammar School in the under-12 decider (4.00) and Walker tackle Excelsior in the under-16 final (4.15).
Organiser Sam Donovan said: “We are expecting great games over the two nights.”
WATCH out for coverage of all the finals in Grassroots Sport.