DEPLETED Silsden Whitestar took West Yorkshire League Alliance Division Two leaders Horbury Town to extra-time before losing 3-1 in the third round of the West Riding County FA Sunday Trophy.

Whitestar were in good spirits on the mini-bus on the way over, and the game was end to end, with most of the possession in the home half.

Veteran Gary Lund occupied the in-form Sam Stanfield up front but it wasn’t enough to stop a world-class strike from 30 yards dipping over the visitors’ 6ft 10in goalkeeper for the only goal of the first half.

Whitestar were full of confidence going into the second half, having shaded the first, and John Berry and Ryan Utley were comfortable at the back.

Jack Kendall and Mark Bradley showed great pace on the flanks and, with two minutes of normal time to go, James Whitehead clipped in from a cross to chip the stretching goalkeeper.

In extra-time, Ben Ramsden hit the bar from 20 yards and Mark Bradley missed a sitter of a header from a yard out.

It just wasn’t to be Whitestar's day as another 35-yard strike floated over their goalkeeper, who had stopped two one-on-ones and had kept the minnows in the game in extra-time.

The hosts added a third to give the scoreline a flattering look.

Berry’s fierce aerial work and tackling earned him the man of the match honours.