Tudhoe land first-ever cup final
League Cup and J&A Trophy semi-finals

TUDHOE United booked their first-ever cup final with a win over Half Moon in the semi-finals of the J&A Trophy.

Tudhoe will play the winners of Masons Arms and Shildon Fox and Hounds, due to face each other in the other semi-final, after they overpowered Half Moon with three second-half goals by Aaron McGarr, Allan Barratt and Christian Schofield.

Boss James Curley said: “We should have been two or three up by half-time but two quick goals after the break killed the game off.

“The lads are over the moon, it’s our first cup final so they celebrated it quite a bit. We’ve come a long way since we were just a bunch of 11 kids without a full strip between us just a few years ago.”

Meanwhile, in the first season with the league, Division Three side Castle also booked a cup final appearance after they beat promoted Division Two side New Brancepeth 4-0 in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Castle will play Division One sides Old Shildon or Hunwick Joiners, who face each other in the other semi-final of the competition.

John Cunningham gave Castle a 1-0 lead by the break, but Paul Thompson netted a second-half hat-trick to make sure of the win.

Boss Peter Baker said: “Our goalkeeper Michael Ayton really kept us in it in the first half with some terrific saves, but in the second half we could have played anyone, we just clicked, so obviously the lads are delighted to have reached a final.”

 
11th April 2007