Keighley Cup Semi-final: Silsden Whitestar 0 Oxenhope Recreation 5

SILSDEN Whitestar matched the holders for effort and determination in the first half before conceding a goal either side of the interval.

Oxenhope started firm favourites against their Craven League opposition and they justified that tag to set up a final with rivals Steeton.

Rec tested the Silsden defence early on, with Leon Smith, Tom Marshall and Craig Morris all being thwarted by the keeper. At the other end, Jason Walton put in a strong last-ditch block to stop a goal-scoring opportunity.

Oxenhope took the lead just before the break when Marshall’s persistence enabled Morris to stab the ball home.

Soon after the break, it was 2-0 when Liam McNicol’s cheeky chip went over the keeper and, within minutes, Leroy Hickman’s dink stretched the advantage.

Oxenhope were in control now with their neat, passing football and Silsden’s cause wasn’t helped when Rec’s Michael Garnett came off the bench to play for the first time in three months.

With Hickman and man of the match Marshall tormenting the opposition’s defence down the flanks and Garnett’s strength in the centre, Whitestar had to defend in numbers.

But on 70 minutes, the pressure told when the ball went from Marshall to Garnett, who turned his marker and blasted home for 4-0.

Minutes later, the big striker was at it again when his powerful free-kick from just outside the area smacked against the bar.

Garnett then went on a run, turning defenders inside out, and when his effort was blocked, it came out to McNicol, whose shot deceived the keeper.

More good cup news came Oxenhope’s way last week when Settle United’s appeal following their dismissal from the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup was rejected.

Oxenhope will now meet Salts in a semi-final next Thursday at West Riding County FA headquarters at Woodlesford, Leeds (7.30pm).

It is the first time in Oxenhope’s 103-year history that the first team have achieved a place in the last four of the county’s most prestigious competition.

Before then they visit reigning West Yorkshire League champions Bardsey on Saturday (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee, Wells, McNicol, Metcalfe, Walton, Kaine, Morris (Day), Quinlan, Smith (Garnett), Hickman, Marshall.

l Oxenhope, with six of their regulars unavailable and fielding a rejigged defence, earned a 1-1 midweek draw in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division at Knaresborough Town.

On 25 minutes, Tom Marshall jinked past two defenders and let fly from 20 yards for the opening goal, only for Town to equalise ten minutes into the second half, and it needed wonderful defending to keep them at 1-1.

West Yorkshire League Alliance Division One Oxenhope Reserves 7 Headingley Reserves 1 Oxenhope played Headingley with no recognised strikers but no-one would have known as the goals flowed.

In the second minute Lewis Hopkinson was brought down in the box and Will Lee expertly converted the resulting penalty.

The home team gifted the opposition an own goal from Headingley’s first foray up field.

But they bounced straight back as Gaz Ritson broke through and pulled the ball back for Graham Robinson to rifle home. Before the break Oxenhope extended their lead when Lee rounded the keeper.

In the second half Ritson was upended in the area and skipper Lee slammed in his second penalty to complete his hat-trick.

Robinson claimed his second when the ball fell kindly for him to finish with ease. Connor Madden then came on and scored with his first touch, side-footing in a James Bailey corner. The rout was completed when Ritson’s shot hit a post, then the keeper and spun into the net.

This Saturday Oxenhope host Beeston Reserves (2.30pm) in a top-of-the-table clash.