Shaun Reay is hoping to book a place in the third round of the FA Cup and a possible tie with one of the biggest clubs in the country.

The Blyth Spartans striker fired home two goals against Shrewsbury Town earlier this month to take the Northumberland side into the next stage of the cup.

The 19-year-old was due to be part of the Conference North side taking on Bournemouth in front of live TV cameras.

The Boldon Colliery lad, an accountancy student at South Tyneside College, was hoping to build on his success today.

the former Boldon School pupil said: "The accountancy is more for when I get older. I just go to college once a week.

"The exams aren't until after the end of the season, so it fits in quite well. It's challenging, and I enjoy it.

"When I first started, I didn't tell anyone I played for Blyth because I didn't think they'd be that interested.

"But since we beat Shrewsbury, I've had a few people talking to me about it.

"Hopefully, we can go down to Bournemouth and get ourselves into the next round.

"If we do, I wouldn't mind Newcastle in the next round.

"I'm a Newcastle fan, and I think more or less everyone else in the squad is too."

His former school football coach Steve Huckle said he'd be glued to the match today, cheering on the player he watched refine his skills over his five years at Boldon School.

He said: "He was a very talented footballer, a player who really worked hard to perfect his game and put everything into each game.

"He's a very nice lad who also excelled in his academic subjects as well.

"He applied himself in all subjects and was well liked by staff here, and his fellow students.

"I'll be watching the match today, and we all wish him well. The FA Cup is a fantastic place to make your name."

Allison Williams, a senior lecturer in business studies at the college, said: "Shaun is an excellent student at the college, and we wish him and Blyth Spartans the best of luck in their game today."

At the start of this season, the youngster was on the books of League Two Darlington, but left after becoming frustrated about the direction of his career.

He enrolled on a one-year Association of Accounting Technicians course at college in South Shields and went on loan to non-league Harrogate Town.

When that did not work out, he signed a two-year contract with Blyth in October.

He scored on his Spartans debut, in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round at Sheffield FC to set up a first-round tie at home to League Two Shrewsbury Town.

Highlights of the 3-1 victory over Paul Simpson's Shrews were the main feature on ITV that night, and Reay responded with two goals – one after 31 seconds – which saw him shortlisted for the player of the round award.

The Spartans reached the FA Cup fifth round in the 1977-78 season after seeing off league opposition in the shape of Chesterfield and Stoke City before Wrexham knocked them out in a replay at Newcastle United's St James's Park.