RIMINGTON reached the semi-finals of the Slater Marchant Craven FA Challenge Cup on Saturday when they claimed the only goal of the game at Bridged End to beat Settle United 1-0 on their own midden.

The visitors had the better of the first-half and should probably have had more to show for periods of good quality football than the solitary goal from Gari Haslam after 30 minutes.

The goal, however, was an effort worthy of winning any game, as Haslam collected the ball 18 yards out with his back to goal, but managed to turn and fire home a fine shot.

Settle lifted the tempo after the break and managed to exert more pressure, creating two or three chances in the process, but Rimington's defence held firm.

They had a golden chance to settle the outcome when a parried shot fell to a Rimington striker, but he blasted over from close range and the game went to the wire before Rimington reached the semi-final.

"It was a very good tie played in a proper spirit," says Rimington manager Terry Braithwaite. "Either side could have won it, but I'm obviously biased and felt that we deserved to nick it."

Braithwaite now looks forward to another semi-final in the competition that he has always held in special affection.

"My grandfather played in it, when we won it in 1992 I scored both goals and I got on as a sub two years ago in the replay win over LMS." he says. "It's a great competition in my view. There's the element of the unknown with teams drawn from different leagues and different divisions and you often don't know what you're going to get when you're drawn away. Pitches can be a real leveller.

"So far as the team is concerned, we're fourth in the East Lancashire first division at the moment, with Settle United one place below us.

"With Kelbrook still involved, there's further East Lancashire opposition in the frame, so there is still plenty to do."

Kelbrook went through via a 1-0 win at Pendle Athletic.

In Saturday's other tie, a replayed Round One match, the action again went into extra time when Sedbergh Wanderers beat visitors Embsay 5-4.

In the Skipton Building Society Morrison Cup, Ingleton proved too strong for neighbours Horton, winning 8-2, but Gargrave sprang a surprise with a 3-2 victory at Craven League Premier Division pace-makers Grindleton, who earlier in the competition had given Rimington a real run for their money.

In the SBS Norman Pratt Trophy, Gargrave Reserves beat visiting Barnoldswick Town Reserves 3-1, while Ingleton Reserves made it a prolific day for the club with a 6-1 win at Earby Town Reserves.

On the Devonshire Carpets Craven League front, Skipton LMS closed the gap at the top of the Premier Division between themselves and leaders Grindleton with a 5-0 win at Cononley Sports.

They now trail by a couple of points with a game in hand on the leaders, although fourth-placed Bronte Wanderers are still very much in the title frame. They are nine points behind the leaders, but have four matches in hand.

In Division One, second-placed Waddington picked up a very useful three points via a 5-2 home win against Skipton Town.

In Division Two, Skipton LMS Reserves matched their senior side with a 5-2 home win over Cononley Sports to keep the pressure on leaders Cross Hills Reserves.