11:41am Thursday 12th October 2006
By Daryl Ames
West Riding County FA Challenge Cup 1st Round Bay Athletic 4 Steeton A.F.C. 2 Despite falling at the first hurdle, manager Roy Mason had every right to be proud of his side, who gave a good account of themselves against the County Amateur Premier champions and losing finalists in the competition last season.
The Huddersfield-based side had the best of the early play and Chris Wheater was called on twice to rescue Steeton.
But minutes later Bay opened their account with a shot from the edge of the box to make it 1-0.
From the re-start, Steeton pressed forward and were a little unfortunate not to draw level, when Ricardo Falconi pulled his shot wide.
Steeton fell further behind though minutes later, when tricky winger Paul Pyke was judged to have been fouled in the box. Steve Perrin slotted home the penalty to make it 2-0.
A mix up at the back minutes later almost led to a third, but Steeton showed great heart and battled on creating their best opportunity of the half on 38 minutes. A short free kick was taken inside the Bay half and skipper Anthony Foulger struck a shot from 25 yards out that was dipping and swerving in the air, which was expertly tipped over by keeper McLaughlan.
In the second half Steeton got to grips in midfield and started getting their passing game together and had the better of the play in the first 20 minutes of the half.
Steeton were rewarded for their efforts when the ball was picked up from a poor goal kick, fed through to Falconi, who was felled in the box and the ref pointed to the spot. Tony Cooper stepped up and coolly fired home right footed to make it 2-1. This unsettled the home side, until a throw in wide on Bay's right was fed up to top scorer Kitson Gayle, who turned and fired home right footed, giving Wheater no chance with 25 minutes of the half gone.
Steeton responded with some good interplay down the left, with young Nick McNally passing the ball up to Colin Horsfield, who fed inside to Steeton's man-of-the-match Falconi, who struck his rising shot just over.
Bay added a fourth as a cross delivered from out wide on the right, evaded everyone, but struck the unfortunate Martin Crangle and the ball was bundled into the net in an attempt to clear with Bay forwards bearing down on him.
Steeton never gave up though and were rewarded again, after a foul was given right on the edge of the Bay box. McNally grabbed the ball and fired a brilliant shot over the wall and into the far top corner giving the Bay keeper no chance.
Keighley Shamrocks 4 East Ardsley Wanderers 1 THE Shamrocks entertained previously unknown opposition at Marley.
The game started off quite lively with both teams testing each other out. Both midfields had their hands full as they tried to outwit each other. John Robertson worked well probing down the left side while Adam Ackroyd provided his usual ariel threat in the middle.
Shamrocks took a deserved lead in the 24th minute when great work down the left and a measured cross from Robertson found Ackroyd at the far post unopposed.
East Ardsley came straight back and after a series of attacks got the equaliser after 33 minutes. The rest of the half saw Shamrocks pressurising the Ardsley defence but only to be frustrated by their in-form keeper.
The second half began with Shamrocks again pushing forward, Stuart Whitehead marshalling the midfield while Gary Lund, Gavin Finn and Liam Bellamy were solid at the back.
Time and time again Shamrocks build up play was let down by some rather poor final passes. The introduction of Neil Rollings seemed to lift the home side and when a lovely through ball from Whitehead found him free on the left he advanced and coolly slotted home from the angle.
It was Rollings who put the game beyond Ardsley when he rose above all to head home Danny Finn's corner.
James Rutherford ended an afternoon of frustration by smashing in the fourth three minutes from time to put The Shamrocks into the hat for the next round. Man-of-the-match for Shamrocks was John Robertson and the team dedicated the win to their close pal John Fawcett.
Altofts 2 Bronte Wanderers 1 BRONTE got off to a bad start when they lost their first choice keeper due to ill health.
With no backup, M Maude made the sacrifice by playing in goal. However as the game got underway it was the Altofts keeper who was the busiest as I Maude created problems for them on the flank.
Bronte had gone close several times and they eventually took the lead through Holdsworth.
But, as half time approached Altofts scored against the run of play.
In the second half the home side began to close down and tackle more aggresively, playing a lot of long and high balls. This began to have the desired effect.
Bronte's passsing game disintegrated and they fell behind to a goal disputed for offside.
With 15 minutes left Bronte piled on the pressure and the very last action of the match saw the Altofts keeper turn Bronte's best effort around the post.
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