Bramhope 3

Burley Trojans 3

(Trojans won 2-1 on penalties)

BURLEY Trojans kept up their recent good form by booking a place in the semi-finals of the Harrogate and District Senior Cup - but not before they had been given a real scare by Bramhope.

A Chris Connolly penalty with five minutes remaining took the tie into extra-time which still failed to separate the sides. Trojans 'keeper Chris Hargreaves was their hero in the penalty shoot out saving three spot kicks which was enough to see his side through by the narrowest of margins.

Trojans opened brightly and there was every reason to suggest that the game would go according to the two sides respective league positions as they penned Bramhope back in their own half, creating chance after chance. Connolly saw a goalbound effort blocked by Lee Wood and 'keeper Craig Russell twice denied Gareth Goodison.

Ian Broadhead had given Trojans a warning by firing over from only ten yards before he gave his side the lead against the run of play midway through the first-half, his stooping header creeping into the bottom corner.

Man-of-the-Match Nick Quaife was an influential figure in midfield as Trojans showed an assured touch on the difficult surface to keep their hosts on the back foot.

Chris Graham forced Hargreaves into action with a well struck shot from distance before Goodison had two more chances well saved by Russell as Trojans became increasingly frustrated. With half-time approaching the visitors finally breached the Bramhope defence with Tom McDermott and Connolly combining to set up Stuart Copley who rifled a low finish past Russell.

Copley showed his defensive qualities early in the second period, clearing off the line from Kevin Page. The big Bramhope defender was then cautioned for a cynical trip on Goodison as he was caught out for pace.

Goodison continued to carry the threat to Bramhope and ran fully 50 yards before seeing his shot drift wide. Connolly had an effort off target and Stuart Dibb headed wide from a McDermott free-kick as Trojans failed to turn pressure into goals.

As the game wore on the home side began to believe that they could spring a surprise and Graham capitalised on a rare Dibb error to force Hargreaves into a fine sprawling save. The dangerous Broadhead put Bramhope ahead with 15 minutes remaining, pouncing to score when Trojans were unable to clear a corner.

Just as it looked like not being Trojans day Dibb found Connolly with a flighted ball into the area and Wood clumsily upended him to leave referee Simon Todd with on option other than to award a penalty. Connolly picked himself up to send Russell the wrong way from the spot and so send the tie into extra-time.

It was anyone's game in extra-time as the heavy pitch began to take its toll. Dave McKain saw a header cleared off the line before Goodison finally got his reward. A mix up between Russell and one of his defenders gave the young striker a simple tap in from close range.

The lead lasted only two minutes as hesitation in the Trojans defence allowed Graham to pounce. There was more than a suspicion of offside about the goal but in truth it was no more than the home side deserved. Both sides appeared to settle for penalties as the second-half of extra-time petered out with only Broadhead coming close to settling it with a couple of efforts which were off target.

Only Page was successful for Bramhope in the shoot out as Hargreaves pulled off three stunning saves. Despite misses from Hargreaves and Quaife, Connolly and McKain scored their spot kicks to send Trojans through to the last four.

l Trojans visit Bramhope again on Saturday, this time with league points at stake, kick-off 2pm, players meet at the Cricket Club at 1pm.