A tense contest saw the youthful United second string keep their nerve in front of goal to deny Spartans the trophy for a second time in three years.

The game had come to life in extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes where chances were at a premium.

Spartans took the lead when Andrew Leeson got the final touch after a free kick was headed back across the face of the goal.

The goal came five minutes into extra-time, however, the lead lasted around 30 seconds.

From the restart Newcastle's Kazenga LuaLua picked the ball up midway inside the Blyth half and cut in from the left to fire an unstoppale 25-yard shot across the face of Adam Bartlett's goal into the far corner.

Blyth went close to snatching a winner before the dreaded penalty kicks.

A Gary Brown shot was almost spilled by Fraser Foster, who just managed to get the ball wide of the upright for a corner.

But the St James' Park crowd of more than 2,000 were treated to more drama in the dreaded penalty shoot-out at the Leazes End.

After Spartans' skipper Gareth Williams, who had an excellent game, saw his opening kick hammer the crossbar, Newcastle edged in front with their first effort.

But Bartlett brought Blyth back in it with a superb save to block United's second effort from substitute Frank Wiafe Danquah.

However, despite Bartlett himself rolling Blyth's fifth effort past his counterpart Fraser Foster to level at 3-3, Newcastle's Mark Doninger blasted in his team's fifth spot kick after Blyth goalscorer Leeson had seen his penalty saved by the Toon number one.

It was a delighted team of youngsters who celebrated an eventful and tiring success while Spartans were left to wonder what might have been.

Superb backing from the Green and White Army throughout the tie made for a good atmosphere and Harry Dunn and his boys could hold their heads high for pushing the full-timers right to the wire.

Blyth Spartans: Adam Bartlett, Ben Christensen, Kenny Boyle (Peter Snowdon 46 mins), Andrew Leeson, Gareth Williams, Garry Brown, Adrian Webster, Chris McCabe, Robert Dale (Ged Dalton 90 mins) Stephen Birks, Martin Houlahan (Andrew Johnson 71 mins).

Newcastle United Reserves: Fraser Forster, Callum Morris, Darren Lough (Matthew Grieve 91 mins) Mark Doninger, Ben Tozer, Tamas Kadar, Jonny Godsmark, James Troisi (James Marwood, 62 mins), Ryan Donaldson, Wesley Ngo Baheng (Frank Wiafe Danquah, 57 mins), Kazenga LuaLua.