United progressed to the last four of the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup with a routine victory over 10-man Newark and Sherwood United at Collingham.

Josh Barnes put his side ahead with a speculative effort after half an hour before Matt Thornhill made it two with another sumptuous free-kick.

Ben Starkie rounded off the win with a fine individual effort with six minutes remaining.

Dominant from the start, a steady stream of possession yielded nothing but half-chances for those in away day blue.

Kameron Campbell had a shot deflected wide before a defence-splitting pass from Barnes put Starkie through, though he could only drag the wrong side of the post.

Finney then tested Kieran Preston with Newark’s first chance of the game, but it was as good as it got for them in the first half when, after 30 minutes, Barnes broke the deadlock.

From range, and with a rather speculative effort, his dipping strike looked easy for Woolley, but a lack of concentration allowed the ball to squirm through his legs and into the back of the net.

Luther Munakandafa then had a dangerous cross deflected into the Woolley’s hands but United comfortably led at half-time.

The start of the second period belonged the Newark who had a duo of fine opportunities to draw level.

Firstly, White thundered the crossbar with a fine, curling effort – well out of reach of Preston – before Sketchley cut inside and bent a nice strike onto the inside of the post and into the grateful hands of the ‘keeper.

However, their own hard work was undone by a moment of madness when Rajter saw red and hacked Starkie down with a rash tackle; an easy job for Premier League referee David Coote who brandished the red card.

Weathering a half-heavy storm, United regained control and after another mazy Starkie run was lazily halted, skipper Thornhill duly dispatched the resultant free-kick into Woolley’s top far corner.

With the game all but finished, a flurry of substitutions saw Nathaniel Peters make his return and he was involved in the third and final goal.

Laying-off Starkie on half-way, the Tanzanian international ran, and continued to run, before firing low into the bottom corner to seal the win.

Next up, a trip to neighbours Ilkeston Town on Boxing Day for a well-anticipated local derby (3pm).

UNITED: Preston; Roma, Irvine (Carr 57’), McGowan, Betts; Starkie, Thornhill (c) (Peters 72’), Munakandafa, Barnes; Marshall (Grantham 53’), Campbell (Dwyer 53’)
SUBS (not used): Musson (GK)

ATT: 177