Salts Old Boys 3, Burley Trojans 2

BURLEY Trojans came away from Esholt on Saturday not quite sure how they finished up on the wrong end of the scoreline after a pulsating cup tie.

Both sides played their part in an excellent game but Trojans' inability to convert a host of chances, particularly in the second-half, cost them dear.

The home side, physically stronger, settled first but were unable to create any decent goalscoring opportunities despite some good pressure.

It was Trojans who created the first real scare when Stuart Dibb's dangerous cross was cleared to safety from under his own bar by David Armstrong with Dave McKain ready to pounce.

Andrew Stocks missed a good chance when he headed weakly wide from a good position but he didn't have long to wait as he latched on to a through pass to round Shane Mitchell to score after 20 minutes.

Mitchell was forced out of the action with a back injury shortly afterwards and, with regular 'keeper Chris Hargreaves watching from the sidelines with stitches in a foot wound following a freak domestic accident, right back Matt Steer donned the green jersey.

Trojans looked capable of grabbing an equaliser as first Dibb and then Jonny Lofthouse found themselves in good positions but unable to find the killer finish. Ian McKain was also off target from the edge of the area as the visitors tested an uncertain home defence.

With Trojans beginning to compete more in midfield they had high hopes for the second-half but within 60 seconds of the re-start they found themselves two down. Armstrong's through pass was partially cut out by Chris Worts and as the Trojans defence hesitated thinking the ball was running out of play, Simon Massey reacted quickly to pick up the loose ball and burst clear into the area before beating the advancing Steer.

Steer enjoyed a quiet second-half and dealt comfortably with the few chances that came Salts way. When the stand-in 'keeper was put under pressure both Worts and Chris Lloyd made timely tackles to deny Massey when he looked favourite to score.

Indeed it was the visitors who took control and they peppered the Salts goal with a barrage of attacks. Both Dibb and Connolly had chances to reduce the arrears but were unable to test Doug Sayle in goal as the bobbly surface made finishing difficult.

The excellent Lofthouse, picking up match point for the second consecutive game, went down in the area under a dubious looking challenge and Connolly hit the bar with a volley before finally getting his reward ten minutes from time.

A needless handball just outside the area gave Trojans a free-kick and Connolly exploited some confusion between the 'keeper and his wall to rifle a low finish into the bottom corner.

Salts were rocking but continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and when Trojans failed to clear their lines at a corner Massey pounced to score past the unsighted Steer.

Trojans were still not finished and right on the final whistle Steer's long clearance caused problems for the Salts back four and Connolly outmuscled two defenders to set up Dibb who beat Sayle from six yards.

The match was excellently refereed by Mick Dennison and he was quick to stamp his authority on the odd occasion that things threatened to boil over. Trojans can have no complaints about the result however they were left feeling that, with a little more composure and good fortune in front of goal, it could have been they and not Salts who go into the bag for the quarter-final draw next week.

l Trojans travel to Boroughbridge Reserves on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.