Sunday Review: Sky Bet worth a flutter says confident Cundall

The bookie boys made the final of the less prestigious County Sunday Trophy last season and continued their County love affair by marching on upped in class to the County Sunday Cup at the weekend.

Bradford Sunday Alliance Football League side Bradford Phoenix provided the opposition and were chinned 6-5 on penalties as Sky Bet set up a last 16 hosting of Huddersfield side Hollins Holme.

Sky Bet, who are seventh in the Wharfedale Triangle League Premier, are now rubbing shoulders with some of Sunday football’s biggest teams in Yorkshire in the fourth round such as Chapeltown Fforde Grene, Hope Inn Whites and Ferrybridge Progressive.

Cundall, though, is relishing the prospect of tackling the County’s Sunday best.

“We are delighted to be in the last 16 of the cup and once again it’s been a welcome distraction to our league exploits,” said Cundall.

“We aren’t really concerned with who is left in the competition as we know that every single team in this competition will be very strong.

“Our opposition in the next round will be a good outfit coming from the strong Halifax league, but we will turn up as ever prepared for a battle and hopefully squeeze our way into the quarter finals by hook or by crook.

“The game will be played whenever the weather allows our pitches to become playable again, which the way things are going might be 2017! I certainly wouldn’t put anyone off having a fiver on us at huge odds to cause more upsets in a competition that seems to bring out the best in this fantastic group of lads.”

Sunday’s last-32 tie was played on a 3G surface and Phoenix looked on course for progression after taking a 70th-minute lead.

Goalkeeper James Maguire then produced heroics to keep Sky Bet in the game and the Leeds side drew level with eight minutes left when a fantastic corner from Mike Toney was dispatched by Paul Denvers.

After finishing 1-1 at full-time, the game went straight to penalties and into sudden death with Maguire saving three spot kicks to send Sky Bet into the last 16.

But the dream is over for St John Fisher Old Boys who were edged out 3-2 by White Eagles, also in the third round.

One game survived in the County Sunday Trophy with Shepherds Arms 5-1 victors at Thornton United in the fourth round.

In the Castleford Sunday League, FC Anglers shocked visiting league leaders Fryston AFC 6-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Open Cup.

Jamie Simpson and Andrew Burton netted for Fryston but goals from Sam Macdonald and Chris Mason took Anglers to penalties. Nevison Leap moved off the bottom of the Premier with a 4-1 victory at third-bottom Queens Head AFC.

Wakefield Sunday League Premiership One leaders King George made it eight wins out eight with a 5-2 success at home to second-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare. Nostell Miners Welfare were 3-2 winners at Boons in the Premier Two Cup while Championship Two leaders Hemsworth Highfield Reserves were held to a 1-1 draw at fifth-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare Reserves.

In the Wharfedale Triangle League, Malt Shovel moved out of the Premier Division dropzone with a 1-0 win at fourth-bottom FC Cuedos.