Tynemet Cup victory hitting the headlines
TYNEMET College retained their grip on the Chroniclelive Under-19 Cup with a 5-3 victory over Prudhoe High School in anentertaining game at Newcastle University’s Cochrane Park.
Both teams defied freezing conditions with a display of skilful, attacking football which produced thrills and spills at both ends.
Tyne Met went into the match as winners of the English Colleges League, while Prudhoe arrived as undisputed champions-elect of the Northumberland Schools Senior League.
Attack and counter-attack were the order of the day for the first 20 minutes - but it was Tyne Met who opened the scoring through Owen Mitchell.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Jack Bailey slotted home for Prudhoe after a mix-up in the Tynemet defence.
Chances came and went at both ends and it was no fault of the outstanding Prudhoe goalkeeper Scott O’dwyer when Tyne Met took the lead just before half time.
After the break the cut and thrust continued as first Prudhoe equalised, then Tyne Met retook the lead, then another equaliser.
It was clear a key incident would steer a result - and so it was when the referee awarded a penalty after a mistimed Prudhoe tackle, coolly placed down the middle by Jamie Novell.
As the air temperature fell even further, Tynemet warmed to their task and a fifth goal five minutes from time by Rio Joisce sealed the match.
All the players received commemorative medals supplied by the
Chronicle, who have been sponsors of the competition for more than 50 years.
The Chroniclelive Cup is for boys aged under 19 on September 1 who are in full-time education at Dferegistered schools and colleges across Northumberland.
On their way to this year’s final, Tyne Met defeated a good Ponteland HS team 7-0 while Prudhoe just overcame a determined Cramlington LV team on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time.
■ NEW Hartley retained the Durham Youth Cup by beating Spennymoor 2-0 in the final.
There was nothing between the sides at Washington’s Nissan Sports Ground until Hartley broke the deadlock with 15 minutes remaining, substitute Harvey Hills smashing home from close range with almost his first kick of the game.
Moments later Hartley’s AJ Barbour was brought down in the box and Dan Turner saw his penalty saved but the referee ordered it to be retaken, only for the same outcome.
Spennymoor were then reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes, then deep into stoppage time they went down to nine following another red card.
With 97 gone Hartley were awarded a free-kick and Dillon Short fired home from 20 yards to make it 2-0 and seal victory.