PONTELAND Blacks have a cup final to look forward to.

The U14 side enjoyed a convincing win over Winlaton Juniors in the semi-finals of the Gateshead Youth League Cup.

There were four goals for Joseph Nicholson, a hat-trick for Ben Kershaw, and one goal each for Ryan Statham and Aaron Edwards.

Statham was one of Ponteland’s key men, and was the recipient of the man of the match award. There was no match for Ponteland United Munich last weekend.

The English Schools Football Association (ESFA) has concluded its search for this season’s most talented young footballers to represent their country.

The 18-player squad, which was picked following trials across the country, will play a home friendly against Australia Schoolboys at Stafford Town FC on Saturday, January 26.

Trials for the ESFA England U15 schoolgirls’ squad began last October. The squad was selected in December and met for a training day in Shrewsbury.

For more information about trials and future opportunities for junior footballers, visit the website of the ESFA, the governing body of schools football, at schoolsfootball.org/