NEWCASTLE Town became Sentinel Cup record-breakers with an 8-1 victory over Alsager Town in the final at the Britannia Stadium.
Their winning margin was the largest for a final in the history of the 120-year-old competition.
UP FOR THE CUP: Newcastle Town celebrate their crushing 8-1 victory over Alsager Town. Right: Stoke City A receive the trophy in 1939. Main picture: Gerard Austin
Newcastle's win on Wednesday featured eight different goalscorers and plenty of flowing football from a team who like to get the ball down and build from the back.
The previous record margin was in 1949/50 when Chesterton PSA beat Milton Rangers 6-0, and in 2008/09 when Stafford Rangers overcame Longton Harriers by the same margin.
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The only other finalists to score eight in the history of the Sentinel Cup were Stoke City A, who beat Downing's 8-5 in the 1938/39 final.
That Stoke team included Neil Franklin, Frank Bowyer, George Mountford, John McCue and Harry Meakin, who all went on to star for the Potters' first team.
It would be a tall order to expect any youngster to become the next Neil Franklin, but Newcastle do have an under-18s side packed with talent.
The club sold 16-year-old Tom Conlon to Peterborough United earlier this season, and it would be no surprise to see Football League clubs taking a look at a few of his former team-mates.
Of the Sentinel Cup-winning team, strikers Jordan Cole and Callum Kenny, winger Josh Gordon and centre-half Leon Probert have all played for the Newcastle Town senior team in the Evo-Stik Division One South.
Under-18s manager Gavin Appleby said: "To score eight goals in a competition like this says something about the quality we have."
Newcastle Town last won the Sentinel Cup in 1994/95, but did win the under-16s Sentinel Shield last season.
Appleby added: "I think we have underachieved in this competition and the challenge now is to keep doing well.
"Half of this side have another year at this age, but so have Alsager. They will be back, maybe for a rematch next year."
Alsager are no mugs – they eliminated Alex Soccer Centre in the semi-finals and are also top of the North Staffs Youth League.
But they were never allowed to settle after Jordan Cole swept Newcastle in front on eight minutes and left-back Callum Lovatt headed home at the back post six minutes later. Winger Ben Matthews curled home a free-kick on 24 minutes, before Alsager began to rally.
However, their slim hopes of a comeback were over on 44 minutes when a corner dropped to Josh Rhodes and the midfielder sent a half-volley screaming into the far corner from 16 yards.
Callum Kenny's 25-yard strike made it 5-0 moments before half-time, to earn the Newcastle side a deserved ovation from the 450-strong crowd.
There was more to come on 59 minutes when a half clearance dropped to man-of-the-match Gordon just inside the area. The winger had his back to goal, but launched into an overhead kick to send the ball over a defender on the line and into the top corner.
Probert headed home a free kick on 64 minutes before substitute striker Rai Simons crashed home an unstoppable shot from just inside the area on 72 minutes.
To their credit, Alsager didn't let their heads drop. They finally got their consolation 10 minutes from time when Adam Roberts headed home a corner.
Alsager boss Garry Jones said: "I am always proud of my players. They worked hard, but we lost a couple of goals early on and they were nervous.
"But we are an under-17s team. It is the first time they have been in such a big arena and it is all about development for the kids. It has still been a fantastic experience playing at the Britannia Stadium."
No bookings were required all evening, which meant a deserved quiet night for referee Tim Derricott.
He achieved a notable double as he had played in goal for the Baddeley Green team who won the Sentinel Sunday Cup against Sneyd the previous night.
Newcastle Town: Zirekoglu, Collins (Bolton, 66), Lovatt, Groves (Hickman, 76), Probert, Mason, Gordon, Rhodes, Cole, Kenny (Simons, 57), Matthews (Robson, 62).
Alsager Town: Ward, N Jones, Maunder, Simmons, Graveson, Kynersley, Simcock, Elliot, Cawley, K Jones, Jepson. (Rolling Subs) Roberts, Brown-Ford, Walton, Collins.
Referee: Tim Derricott. Attendance: 450.
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