Keighley Challenge Cup first round: Broomhill 5 FC Sporting Keighley 0

BROOMHILL bounced back after a recent run of poor results with an emphatic victory against Craven League Premier Division opponents as man of the match Zain Abbas claimed a hat-trick.

The hosts had a number of enforced changes to the starting line-up, with the fantastic Ben Manning slotting into centre back with ease and young keeper James Smith promoted from the reserves, while Patrick King and Jack Richmond returned to the midfield.

Broomhill struggled to handle the away side's movement in the opening 15 minutes as Smith made two fantastic one-on-one stops.

But the Badgers broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when a free-kick into the box from Andy King caught the wind and beat the keeper.

With Abbas terrorising his opponents down the left-hand side, he won a corner after beating a few men. It was whipped to the front post where Abbas headed into the roof of the net to double the lead.

The Badgers continued their relentless pressing after the break but Sporting's best chance of the half came after full back Chris Reynolds was nutmegged by their left winger, who cut inside and forced a stop from Smith. The rebound fell to the oncoming midfielder but Dale Duff impressively cleared off the line.

The Badgers continued playing to the corners with Andy Tanner working both channels tirelessly. After picking up a ball from Andy King, Tanner beat his man in the corner and cut back to Abbas, who curled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards to effectively seal the win.

The hosts didn't rest on their laurels, however, and Abbas was soon rewarded with a deserved hat-trick through all his own doing. Receiving the ball from Richmond, he cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive in off the post.

Young Simon Harris made an immediate impact after coming on. He rolled his man with ease and squared to Richmond, who played a fantastic first-time ball over the defence for Tanner to latch on to. He took his time before beating the keeper to make it 5-0.

This was a great performance from a much-changed Badgers, who now face fellow Craven League Division One side Cowling in the next round.