Burley Trojans 1, Harold Styans 3

Trojans season continued in decline as they turned in an insipid performance to hand their Senior Cup semi-final to Harold Styans.

For the third season in a row Trojans have faded alarmingly during the latter stages to lose out on any hope of honours. The reason for the untimely slump remains a mystery but once again on Saturday the game was there to be won against a side over whom Trojans had completed the double earlier in the season.

Trojans had been forced to concede home advantage in the tie and in the first-half it did not seem to give their opponents any significant advantage. The first 45 minutes were keenly contested, with the strong cross wind and rock hard surface making it difficult for both sides.

The big difference was in the final third of the pitch where Styans were unable to muster a single shot on goals whereas Trojans had numerous scoring opportunities and their failure to capitalise was to cost them dear in the second-half.

Gareth Goodison saw an early effort fly just over and then a hopeful long range effort from the excellent Chris Lockwood clipped the bar. Goodison also had a powerful effort charged down and midfielder Dave McKain was just off target with a header following excellent work from Jonny Lofthouse.

Chris Connolly was a constant threat to the Styans defence and centre-half Chris Blake rode his luck with referee Adam Bowen repeatedly fouling the Trojans' dangerman as the home side desperately hung on.

Connolly found the tireless Stuart Copley with a deep cross but his effort was cleared off the line by Blake. Trojans recent poor form had clearly affected their confidence and there was hesitation on a couple of occasions when they found themselves in inviting positions.

The second-half began disastrously for Trojans as they fell behind within a two minutes of the re-start. A long ball forward into Trojans' half bounced goalwards and centre-half Kieren Hanogue, in attempting to nod the ball back to Chris Hargreaves only succeeded in sending it over the advancing 'keeper and into the unguarded net.

Trojans were clearly rocked by this and conceded a second on the hour. Phil Dodsworth's well flighted free-kick picked out Lee Pratt on the far post and the big centre half nodded home.

The game threatened to boil over with an ugly confrontation in centre field involving Connolly and Gary Hespin and matters were not helped by the intervention of several Styans players all apparently intent in getting Connolly into trouble with referee Bowen.

Trojans introduced Craig Swanston and he livened thing up and was just denied by a last ditch Blake tackle as he shaped to shoot. Trojans hauled themselves back into contention from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining.

Goodison's twisting run in the box was halted by Tony Harland's crude challenge and, after a lengthy delay whilst Mr Bowen satisfied himself that the ball was on the spot, Man-of-the- Match Connolly slid the ball past Michael Recchia.

Troajns joy was short-lived and Styans restored their two goal advantage within two minutes. With Trojans pushing forward in search of the equaliser they were caught on the break and McKain brought down Paul Kelly as he bore down on goal.

Ben Jefferson's spot kick sent Hargreaves the wrong way and Styans began to celebrate the prospect of a rare cup final appearance.

It was tough on McKain who was one of few Trojans players who did himself credit and was also harshly treated by the referee when he was booked for an innocuous foul, when others around him on both sides committed far worse offences. Trojans threw everything forward and Styans' substitute Nigel Green was cautioned for kicking the ball away and Blake eventually found his way into Mr Bowen's notebook for one foul too many on Connolly.

It was too much to ask for Trojans to retrieve the situation and so it was Styans who deservedly booked their place in the final in May against either Pannal Sports or Ilkley.

l Trojans complete their league programme on Saturday at Boroughbridge, meet at the Red Lion at 1pm.