City boys steel themselves for crunch.

Newcastle Boys will need to show some steel on Saturday when they visit the city famous for that self same product in the English Schools Trophy.

Sheffield Boys are unbeaten this season and have an outstanding record in this national competition, having reached the final four times in 14 years.

Newcastle can take heart from their previous two outings this term in the Trophy. In the last round a trip to Hartlepool was rewarded with a 5-3 win, goals coming from Eddie Dines, Shaun Forster (2), Anthony Hunt and Lee Novak.

The impressive Forster also scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 rout of Sunderland in round one. The other strikes came from Anthony Hunt and Lee Novak.

Town team coach Dave Slipper said: "This should be a close game. We are well prepared and looking forward to it."

Slipper travels with this squad for the mid-day kick-off at Sheffield Wednesday Academy Ground: Phil Courtney, Ross Davis, Anthony Massie, Tony Hunt, Carl Paterson, Eddie Dines, Patrick Leonard (capt); Craig Walker, Adam Pendlebury, Lee Novak, Shaun Forster, Adam Rowntree, Shaun Sager, Darren Douglas, Joel Potts, Mark Doninger, Philip Hainsworth, Liam Turnbull, Lewis Mornson.

NDURHAM County Schools Under-16s hope to qualify for the opening rounds of the ESFA County Trophy. Another step along the road to that ambition takes place this Saturday when Cleveland are the visitors to the University ground (10.30). Durham pick from:

Daniel Robinson, Stuart Campbell, John Haines (Bishop Auckland), Christopher Hollis, Liam Wailes, Richard Logan (Chester-le-Street), Neil Patterson (Darlington), Gary Mackay (Derwentside), Anthony Cook (East Durham), Michael Tenell, Ben Johnson (Gateshead), Gary Spottiswood, Jonathan Gage (South Tyneside), Michael Foster, Craig Hughes, Mark Meakin (Sunderland).

NBLYTH Community College is through to the quarter-finals of the Northumberland Senior Schools Cup after Saturday's 3-1 win at Astley High School.

Christopher Brock, Steven Rylatt and Steven Brown scored Blyth's goals.

NANOTHER College through to the quarter-final stage of the Chronicle Cup is Tynemouth College, who travelled to Wallsend's Burnside School and won 4-2.

Following an even start to this match, Tynemouth began to exert control and led 3-0 with goals from Tom Mannix, John Harrison and Lee Stevenson.

Burnside pulled one back before half-time through Scott Dodds. A second goal for the home team from Stephen Evans made life interesting before Tynemouth secured the victory with a late effort from Paul Pearson.

NCRAMLINGTON High School kept a firm grasp on the Chronicle Cup won last year with a 2-1 away win after extra time.

In an excellent third round tie, Cramlington captain Mark Grant was in inspirational form.

Gary Lamb and Dan Reay scored for Cramlington with Simon Gourley replying for Whitley Bay.

NALSO through to the quarter-final stages of the Evening Chronicle Cup are King Edward, Morpeth (beat St Cutbert's 6-0), St Benet Niscop (defeated Hexham 2-1), Seaton Burn (who had a bye), Heaton Manor (victorious over Walbottle 3-2) and Monkseaton.

NPETERLEE'S Dene House School overcame Sunderland Hylton Red House 4-2 to win the Under-16 Bert Hodgson Trophy.