Craven League Football
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Grassington into final of Morrison Cup
The Northern Plant Hire Trophy, Divisional League Cup ties and the District Association Morrison Cup semi-final took centre stage last Saturday.
Alas the weather forecast proved correct when a beautiful spring like morning was replaced by atrocious weather in the afternoon as games were played in constant heavy rain.
Grassington United progressed to the final of the Morrison Cup with a resounding ten goal demolition of Carleton while in the Northern Plant Hire Trophy Skipton LMS, Pendle Athletic, Hellifield and Oxenhope will contest the semi-finals.
In the Divisional League Cup ties Cononley Sports went out in a penalty shoot out with Waddington and Earby Town went out 6-4 to Pendle Forest.
On the league front Gargrave suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Clitheroe Lions while Division One pacesetters Grindleton slipped at home to a single Oakworth goal and Chatburn handed Cononley Reserves a ten goal thrashing in Division Two.
Bottom club LMS Reserves lost by the odd goal in five at Grassington.
Division Three leaders Barnoldswick Barons won 8-2 over Waddington Reserves with the Cowling-Settle match abandoned ten minutes into the second-half.
Division One strugglers Carleton were always going to find their Premier Division opponents Grassington United tough opposition in the District Association Morrison Cup and were not helped when players were unavailable and they called upon 51year-old Wayne Smithies as stand-in goalkeeper.
Grassington with the wind, rain and slope in their favour scored in the first minute and took most of the chances that came their way.
They had a commanding 6-1 lead at the break. Carleton showed better in the second-half despite losing Smithies through injury against a superior side as strikers Adam Steventon (4), Jan Ozdoba (3), defender Carl Drewett (2) and Nicholas Breckon were on target.
Aidan Beard capped a tireless display with two second-half goals and he also hit the woodwork on three occasions for the home side.
Stewart Gee netted the first goal for Carleton who earn some consolation in that the pitch was in excellent condition despite the appalling weather.
In the Premier Division Gargrave lost 4-1 at home to Clitheroe Lions and but for a good display by the visiting goalkeeper could have well salvaged a point.
Stand-in goalkeeper Mark Webb conceded three first-half goals before Tom Varey was rewarded with goal however Lions claimed a fourth goal in atrocious conditions in which young Ben Wilson did a sterling job as linesman.
Rolls Royce lost at home to a strong Gargrave Reserve side 2-1 with Ben Brown and Christian Moon scoring for the visitors as their speedy front men left Rolls struggling to contain them in a well contested game played in ever worsening conditions.
Craig Walton with a header was Rolls scorer but for all their pressure in the second-half they could not find the finishing touch.
Earby Town lost a second successive fixture losing out in the league cup tie with Pendle Forest 6-4 having held a 4-2 lead at one stage.
In heavy condition on a pitch that cut up badly Forest scored first only for Town to score through Paul Oldroyd.
He also provided the pass for Anthony Dean to put Town in front and they stunned Forest with another Oldroyd goal.
Earby were caught napping when Forest scored with a free-kick however Earby held a 4-2 half-time lead when Dean scored his second goal.
It was the turn of Forest to score goals taking a 5-4 lead without any reply from Earby and the tie was settled when Forest scored a sixth with Earby missing some chances late on which summed up their second-half performance
2:44pm Thursday 3rd April 2008
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