Newcastle United progressed to the final of the Dale Farm Globe courtesy of a convincing 5-1 victory over Strikers in the Premier Section at Broughshane.
The Toon started the brightest and almost took the lead with 13 minutes on the clock but fortunately for the Strikers, their goalkeeper was equal to Mackenzie MacCubbin’s effort, deflecting it over for a corner. Craig Spooner then should have scored for the Geordies but couldn’t convert when unmarked in a great position in the box.
Newcastle deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes, an excellent header from Ben Pollock to convert a crossed free kick from the right hand side. Going a goal behind appeared to finally jerk the Strikers into life who went close on 29 minutes through a stunning volley from Charlie Wehan which flew just over the cross bar. This effort proved to be in vain however, as just two minutes later the Tynesiders doubled their lead, after a manic goalmouth scramble, the Strikers defence failed to clear their lines leaving Callum Lee Smith unmarked to drill the ball home.
The second half followed much the same course of action as Newcastle extended their lead further on 38 minutes as Mackenzie MacCubbin scored with an expert curling finish. The American side then enjoyed their best spell of the game with Christian Bond-Flasza going close with an angled drive across goal before David Polson drilled an effort just wide after an excellent show of pace and acceleration to beat his defender.
On 59 minutes the Strikers were rewarded with the goal that their spell of pressure deserved, when substitute Guillaume Marneau fired home a powerful finish before teammate Christian Bond-Flasza blew a superb opportunity by shooting wide when clean through on goal. The game seemed to turn on this miss, Strikers became devoid of belief as Newcastle stepped it up a gear and put the game beyond doubt with a smartly taken fourth goal by Mackenzie MaCubbin on 63 minutes before he completed his hat trick just seconds later with a superb display of skill and trickery before finishing with aplomb to give a final scoreline of Newcastle United 5-1 Strikers.
Jordan Miller