Keighley Challenge Cup semi-final: Broomhill 1 Silsden Whitestar 3

CRAVEN League Division One side Broomhill went down fighting in front of a big crowd at Marley against their Premier Division opponents Silsden Whitestar.

The Badgers named an unchanged team for only the second time this season in the hope of breaking down their title-challenging rivals, using a 4-1-4-1 formation.

The difficult surface did not suit Silsden's passing game but they started the brightest and should have been one up in the first five minutes, hitting the bar from short range following an in-swinging corner.

The Badgers failed to take note of the warning, starting slowly on the heavy pitch and leaking chance after chance in the first 20 minutes. Home keeper Jake Yaxley was called into action on numerous occasions – diving bravely at the striker's feet in a one-on-one.

Broomhill finally woke up with the midfield trio of Jack Richmond, David Rhodes and Andy King starting to control the play.

Tanner was working tirelessly as a lone striker and, after receiving a pass from midfield, spun his man to head for the byline. He cut it back to Joe Slater, who controlled well but hit his shot straight at the keeper from 12 yards.

On the half hour mark, Silsden finally broke the deadlock. The Badgers defence had been successfully soaking up the pressure but a long-range strike from Gavin Shearer found its way under the home keeper on the bobbly pitch.

The goal rejuvenated the home side and they were level five minutes later. Rhodes made an outstanding tackle in the centre of midfield and found Slater. He chipped a ball over the top for Tanner, who took a touch and drilled the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner.

The hosts started the second half well as Dale Duff volleyed straight at the keeper, Slater fired over with his weaker foot and Liam Baker shot narrowly wide following great play from King and Richmond.

Broomhill were unhappy that some challenges went unpunished as the tie became physical. But Whitestar felt the officials did a great job for both teams in letting the game flow.

The visitors regained the lead when Broomhill switched off after expecting the referee to blow up for a challenge they claimed was late.

But the whistle didn't come and they were undone by a clever pass between the Badgers defence for Whitestar's Mateusz Tomas to chip Yaxley and make it 2-1.

Broomhill went close from a Richmond free-kick and had appeals for a penalty for handball turned down.

In the dying minutes, with the Badgers pushing for a late equaliser, Tomas found himself in space on the left and cut into the box. With no home defender able to touch him now, he drilled a ball across the six-yard box aiming for his striker at the back post. Baker had done well to track the run but was only able to slice the ball into his own net.

The Badgers certainly put up a resilient fight against their higher-ranked opponents and felt that, on another day, could have been heading to their first Keighley Cup final.

The day ended on a sour note for Broomhill as they discovered Patrick King had broken his leg in a challenge.

Whitestar play Broomhill again in the Northern Plant Hire Trophy on March 4.