Yorkshire Amateur League: Medics' reserves set up cup final date with first team

leeds Medics Reserves set up a mouthwatering Marflitt Trophy face-off with their first-team after beating Premier Division Grangefield to reach the final.
Jody Lazenby, of Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves, beats Shire Reserves' Dion Ellis to the ball. PIC: Steve RidingJody Lazenby, of Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves, beats Shire Reserves' Dion Ellis to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding
Jody Lazenby, of Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves, beats Shire Reserves' Dion Ellis to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding

Matt McCullough’s first-half strike sent the Championship outfit through to Saturday’s cup final double header at South Leeds Stadium.

In a showpiece to celebrate the league’s 90th anniversary, Garforth Crusaders and Morley Town Reserves will contest the Hancock Cup final from 1.30pm.

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Steve Ledger’s Medics, who have also reached the final of the Leeds FA Senior Cup for the first time, face their second string at 4.30pm.

Lew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve RidingLew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding
Lew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding

In beating Grangefield, Medics Reserves had to withstand lengthy spells of second-half pressure and Joe Timpson’s superb display helped them do so.

Outstanding successes in the first round against Leeds Independent and in the quarter-final against Alwoodley make them worthy contenders for the crown.

Elsewhere, Farsley Celtic Juniors booked their place in the final of the Yorkshire Old Boys Shield with a 3-0 defeat of Redcar Newmarket.

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Celtic’s defence of their Premier Division title has been turbulent but the return of last year’s top scorer Danny Lyons for a first start in four months helped them past their Teesside opponents.

Tom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve RidingTom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve Riding
Tom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve Riding

Lyons broke the deadlock on 52 minutes and Louis Surtees’ brace, including a brave header, set up a date with Drighlington at the West Riding County FA headquarters on 12th May.

In the Premier Division, several sides continue to jostle for position at the top as both leaders Drighlington and third-placed Stanley United won on Monday night.

Drig show no signs of letting up, going two points clear at the top by beating Beeston Juniors 3-1 on Monday evening. Harvey Booth put Steve Phillips’ men two goals to the good after just 15 minutes and, after a Beeston fightback, Tom Farrar restored the three-goal margin.

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This result followed a clinical despatching of bottom side St Nicholas on Saturday, in which Booth also opened the scoring, but Andy Punter and Brett Thompson got in on the act.

Lew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve RidingLew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding
Lew Barnes, of Shire Reserves, beats Horsforth's Declan Broadley to the ball. PIC: Steve Riding

Stanley are gaining on second place, two points behind Medics with two games in hand after cruising to a 3-0 win over Morley Town. Their goals came from Kieran Wright, Josh Whiteley and Leroy Watson, Morley’s relegation fears refusing to ease with a fourth defeat in five.

Town thought they had allayed this anxiety with a vital 3-1 weekend win over Beeston, earned by goals from Ryan Hartley, Aiden Philip and Ben Haworth.

They are engaged in a three-way scrap to avoid the second relegation spot, their clash against Stanningley on May 5 already appearing their date with destiny.

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The two Championship promotion spots seem destined to go to Horsforth St Margaret’s and Gildersome Spurs.

Tom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve RidingTom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve Riding
Tom Bluemink, of Shire Reserves, shoots agaisnt Horsforth St Margaret's Reserves. PIC: Steve Riding

The only question remaining is which can claim the title.

St Bedes’ 7-5 conquering of Calverley United at the weekend determined the binary nature of the title race, leaving their opponents six points off the pace.

On Monday, Horsforth extended their lead to four points thanks to a hard-earned 2-1 win over Bede’s – their seventh successive league triumph.

Aaron Gilchrist’s flying header settled a contest in which both sides gave their all, Johnny Townend cancelling out a James Watson opener early on.

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This was their second win in three days, following a 4-1 victory over Shire Academics in which Watson claimed a hat-trick.

Shire, sitting in fifth place, bounced back from that defeat by downing Beeston St Anthony’s 2-0 on Monday night.

The topsy-turvy quality of the second tier was encapsulated by lowly Wortley beating Medics Reserves at the weekend, cup heroes not 48 hours later.

Basement boys Thornesians and Wortley are six and five points adrift respectively but have games in hand to catch up on the ailing likes of Collingham Juniors and Leeds Independent.

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Five clubs are in very real danger of dropping out of Division One, meanwhile, owing to Leeds Medics III’s 3-1 win over Farsley Celtic Juniors Reserves.

Fergus Machin, Joe Wade and Pedro Montalban’s goals mean only seven points separate Garforth Rangers in 11th and Farsley in seventh.

In Division Two, Garforth Crusaders’ 4-1 win over Colton Athletic leaves them two points away from securing promotion to the third tier.

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