Wharfedale FA 3, Heavy Woollen 3

AFTER a gap of 16 years the Wharfedale FA have once again entered a team in the West Riding County Minor Cup.

As a daunting first hurdle they were given a home game against highly fancied Heavy Woollen whose side contained four county representatives.

Wharfedale knew it would be a tough baptism facing a side containing many players who had played together last season.

Wharfedale's Under-17s, selected from five local clubs, were playing their first game together and they shocked the visitors with a quality early strike from Burley Juniors midfielder Daniel Henderson.

Heavy Woollen came more into the game towards the interval after Wharfedale had squandered a number of chances.

The visitors equalised before the break and then took control in the second-half playing some excellent football to go 3-1 up.

Wharfedale, for whom goalkeeper Jake Wray and midfielder Chris Davey were key figures, then stepped up a gear and showed their battling qualities.

Going into the last ten minutes with the added pace of substitutes Andy Simmonds and Adam Smith they pegged it back to 3-2 with Henderson scoring again.

Then to the delight of the big home crowd at Guiseley's Nethermoor Park Adam Smith finished an excellent move to make it 3-3 and give Wharfedale their first point.

Wharfedale FA: Jake Wray (Guiseley); Paddy Clough (Guiseley), Sam Townend (Pool), Ben Webster (Guiseley), Carl Smith (Guiseley); Sam McCaffrey (Otley Town), Daniel Henderson (Burley), Chris Davey (Guiseley), Lewis Blakey (Guiseley); Steve Keeling (Horsforth St M), Will Stubbs (Guiseley). Subs: Adam Smith (pool), Andy Simmonds (Guiseley). Subs not used: Danny Green (Horsforth St M), James Davidson (Burley), Ryan Morris (Pool).