Satka Smiling After Spartans Strike

By Tom Easterby

Lubo Satka capped his fine season by winning the Techflow Group Northumberland FA Senior Cup at St. James' Park last night - and notching his first goal for Newcastle United in the process.

The 18-year-old centre half popped up in the opposition box to stab home at the Leazes End after Gael Bigirimana's effort was parried by Blyth Spartans stopper Conor Grant.

After Satka had opened the scoring late in the first half, goals from Michael Richardson, Jonathyn Quinn and Bigirimana after the break secured the trophy for Peter Beardsley's youngsters and the Slovakia youth international expressed his delight at getting both the win and his maiden strike in black and white.

"It was basically my first competitive goal for Newcastle, so it felt really good," explained the former Dubica man. "It was quite an important goal as well, right before half time, so I'm happy to help the lads to win.

"I thought we did quite well, especially in the first 15 minutes. We passed it around and had quite a few chances, but then we dropped it a bit. We got a goal before half time and in the second half they had a few chances, but I thought we were the better side.

"They (Blyth) battled really hard and they kept their shape very well and ran around. They were a decent side - it wasn't an easy game to play."

Satka is one of four Magpies Academy graduates - along with Freddie Woodman, Rolando Aarons and Adam Armstrong - to have signed their first professional contracts with the Club this year, and the tall defender has now set his sights on emulating Armstrong by making the breakthrough into the first-team squad.

"For me, it's been a good season," he told nufc.co.uk. "I didn't have any major injuries so I just kept playing game after game, week in, week out and I enjoyed it, it's been good.

"I'll try to push on. It's a motivation when the gaffer gives a chance to young players, so I'll try to work hard all summer and pre-season as well and see what happens."