Semi-final heartache for Alnwick Town

But on Monday they were re-instated into the competition, and handed a place in the final, after it emerged their opponents had fielded an ineligible player in their tie.

And in a strange twist of fate, it was a similar story in the other semi-final where Blyth Town beat New Fordley 2-1, but were also removed from the competition.

Alnwick, under the charge of caretaker manager Stephen Patterson, were trying to reach their first final in ten years, but they lost out to their opponents, despite enjoying a lot of possession.

However, they failed to create a sufficient number of clear-cut chances, and they went down to a goal in each half.

In the first period, Forster was unlucky when he saw a shot from 25 yards hit the crossbar.

But the breakthrough came at the other end in the 42nd minute when McKitterick found the net from distance, the goal separating the sides at half-time.

The visitors’ second goal came in the 67th minute when Luanda’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to McLaughlin, who fired back across goal and into the net.

In the closing stages Alnwick pushed players forward in the hope of forcing their way back into the game but they were unable to find a way through.

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