THERE was an eye-catching result in the second round of the Keighley & District FA Challenge Cup as Craven League Division One leaders Silsden Whitestar beat top-flight Cowling 5-0.

The much-delayed tie was played after two postponements and Silsden’s solid performance booked them a semi-final at home to Oxenhope Rec next month.

Ben O’Melia continued to impress with a low drive and, once captain and man of the match Andy McNulty’s 20-yard drive hit the back of the net, there was no coming back for Cowling.

Mark Bradley notched his 19th goal of the season and two goals after the break from free-scoring Sam Stanfield ensured revenge was gained over the team that had knocked them out twice in recent seasons.

It was not a good weekend to be leading the table in the Mastab’s Craven League.

Cross Hills are front-runners in the Premier Division, yet were beaten 5-0 at home by fourth-placed Trawden Celtic in the third round of the Northern Plant Hire Trophy.

However, an even bigger shock came in the Division Two Cup quarter-finals where cellar dwellers Sutton won 3-1 at pace-setters FC Sporting Keighley as the table was turned upside down.

Sutton had only won one league game all season, while the hosts had not been beaten since early October.

Mickey Ruddock, Lukasz Saranoski and Jack Shaw, with his first open-age goal since progressing from the under-16s, did the damage, with Rohban Rashid replying.

Sporting, who had several players missing and dragged replacements out of retirement to make up the numbers, could have been three up inside the first 15 minutes but failed to find the target.

Aatir Zuber Shezad was Sporting’s man of the match but they ended the game with only ten men after Munzir Nazir was sent off with 15 minutes to go for commenting to the referee about his performance.

Sporting’s Faruk Ali said: “I still can’t believe we lost the game. We wasted several clear-cut chances but credit to Sutton, who are an improving team and deserved their victory.

“It was a bad day for us all round – one to forget and move on from.”

Broomhill climbed from fifth to second in Division Two with an 8-2 defeat of second-placed visitors Grassington United Reserves which stretched an unbeaten run dating back to mid-October.

Goals for the winners came from strikers Andy King (4), who replaced Simon Harris, and Andy Tanner (2), central defender David Rhodes and 16-year-old substitute Ben Smith completing the scoring.

Rhodes’ goal came after only 59 seconds, the header from a corner being his second in as many games.

United equalised but King drilled a ball into the bottom corner with his left foot, rounded the keeper before firing into the net for his second and completed his hat-trick on the half-hour after linking well with man of the match Tanner.

United replied but Tanner then netted and King got his fourth in the second half.

Substitutes Chris Reynolds squared for Tanner to complete his brace, the striker then putting Smith in for his first goal.

In Division One, man of the match Ryan Stubbs couldn’t inspire Ingrow & Worth Valley to defeat visitors AFC Colne, the Lancastrians winning 4-2, while fourth-placed FC Polonia drew 4-4 at Manningham All Stars in Division Two, Pizemyslaw Witch (2) and Maryslaw Bak being among the Poles’ scorers.

Man of the match Ben Gannon and Jan Ozdoba netted for United. while James McConville got the only goal for Skipton LMS Reserves in their 4-1 defeat at Salts.

Cowling Reserves lost 5-0 at home to Trawden Celtic Reserves in Division Three, Martyn Dalby again taking the gong for Cowling, while Tom Storrie did likewise for Cross Hills Reserves in their 6-3 setback at Ilkley.

Ben Armstrong was man of the match for Barlick Wanderers in their 4-0 defeat at Pendle Renegades Reserves but Naq Hussain (2), Shane Dwyer and Ross Greenwood were the marksmen for Skipton Town Reserves in their 4-1 victory over Addingham, Sam Headley being man of the match.