West Riding Cup/West Yorkshire League: On-the-spot Rawdon shoot down '˜big guns'

City sit fourth in the West Yorkshire Premier with Rawdon top of Division One and goals from Craig Nicholls and Phillip Stansfield took the game to penalties through a 2-2 draw.

Rawdon then held their nerve to book their place in the quarter-finals which will be played on Saturday, February 3.

Leeds Medics became only the third Yorkshire Amateur League side to reach the last eight of the competition with a 1-0 win at Thorne Colliery.

Brad Chambers scored the only goal of the game with a snapshot from ten yards out with 20 minutes remaining.

Medics then had to withstand plenty of pressure from their opponents who play in the Black Dragon North section of the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League.

But a man-of-the-match display from Basim Dawoud helped the Leeds side over the winning line.

Elsewhere in the last 16, Ilkley Town Juniors were beaten 5-1 at Uppermill while Campion edged a 2-1 success at Huddersfield Amateur. Golcar United overpowered visiting Greetland 7-2.

In the County Challenge Trophy, a bad day for Leeds City was completed as their reserves suffered a 2-1 loss at home to Denholme United in the fourth round.

But Wakefield League high flyers Halton Moor enjoyed a 2-1 success at Britannia Sports Reserves while Ealandians Reserves saw off fellow Yorkshire Amateur League visitors Shire Academics 4-1.

Dave Kerr and Jonny Pickles both bagged braces for Ealandians with Alex Cookson consoling Shire.

Ealandians will play Honley who romped to a 6-1 win at Hellifield Sports.

The Yorkshire Amateur League Division Three side put up a good fist of things against Beeston St Anthony’s Reserves before losing 5-3.

Otley Town progressed with a 4-1 triumph on spot kicks at home to Armley CC after a 2-2 draw while Salts Reserves also went through on spot kicks by winning their shootout 5-4 at home to Ilkley Town Reserves after a 1-1 draw.

n In the West Yorkshire League, 2019 will mark 50 years as a club for Hall Green United, but celebrations are set to start as early as August 2018.

Hall Green earned promotion to the West Yorkshire Premier Division last season, and after a rough start to the current campaign, five wins in their last eight games has seen them rise from rock bottom to 13th place.

With momentum flowing at the club, secretary Stuart Marsden was delighted to announce the celebration plans, which are set to run for almost a full calendar year. He said: “We will start the celebrations on August bank holiday, with a pre-season match of Club Legends vs a Mark Wilson select.

“Wilson has just completed 1,000 matches in the Northern Counties East League, and is a former player/manager at Hall Green.

“Throughout the winter we have various events planned for our clubhouse, with a sponsors’ past and present night, and an ex-players gathering.

“I am currently writing a book full of stats on our history. As a founding member I have all the stats from every game played in that 50-year period. That will be available later in the year.

“The celebration will finish with presentations, dinner and dance in June 2019, hopefully in a marquee at the clubhouse.

“Memorabilia will be on display in the clubhouse throughout all the events.”

Hall Green’s 3-0 win over Shelley at the weekend means they are now only seven points off second-placed Ilkley, and with the feelgood factor at Crigglestone Sports Club so strong, who can count them out from putting pressure on the Premier Division’s leading pack.

Elsewhere, leaders Beeston dropped points at Field, with goals from James Allan and Jonathan Haigh good enough only for a 2-2 draw.

Robin Hood Athletic jumped one place to 11th with their 3-1 victory over Hartshead.

Sherburn’s poor form continued, however, with a 2-2 draw at home to Headingley, meaning they remain 16th and last in the table.

White Rose thought that they had done enough for the win, before a 90th-minute strike from Ashley Austin, followed by Andrew Williams’ 93rd-minute goal snatched a draw for the visitors.

In Division One, East End Park retained fifth place, defeating Featherstone Colliery 2-0.

A red card for Featherstone’s James Cave did little to help the visitors cause.

With leaders Rawdon Old Boys in cup action against Leeds City, promotion hopefuls Whitkirk Wanderers took advantage to keep the pressure on, with a 2-1 win at Kippax.

Wyke Wanderers also remained in the title picture, with substitute Sam Digby’s goal giving them a narrow 1-0 victory over Wetherby.

Finally in Division Two, Garforth remain pointless after their 3-0 loss to Huddersfield YM, Old Centralians ended their three game losing streak with a 3-2 triumph over Hampsthwaite United, and two goals from Jordan Hutchinson earned Kellingley Welfare a 2-2 draw away at Kirk Deighton Rangers.