Pool AFC 3 Salts Old Boys 1

The semi-final of the Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup saw Pool AFC triumph to deliver manager Martin Denison further good news after the safe arrival of baby son James the previous day.

With spirits high Pool took to the field to face a Salts Old Boys team containing a Pool old boy in Jamie Taylor.

Pool kicked-off and from the word go took control, cutting the Salts defence to ribbons with a fast flowing style of football worthy of the occasion.

Only a combination of poor finishing and the woodwork stopped an avalanche of goals from the well drilled Pool side.

After 30 minutes of total dominance it was a surprise to all that Salts took the lead with a goal from one of only two chances in the whole game.

A long punt from defence fell nicely to the Salts striker who turned and chipped Steve Thompson from 20 yards.

The Pool supporters played their part in galvanising their team and it wasn't long before normal service was resumed.

A break down the left from Willoughby created the chance for Jackson to smash home the equaliser.

This was Jackson's Christmas present to all his team as moments later he was carried off with a recurrence of a back injury that has plagued him for some time.

The half-time break must have come as some relief to the Salts defence who were struggling to stem the flow.

The second took the same course as the first with the Pool's midfield in the ascendancy.

Staniforth and Singleton were in complete control in the centre with Healey and Fieldend terrorising the Salts back four down the flanks.

Pool were soon ahead when a Joyce corner fell to the boots of Staniforth who dissected the Salts defence and coolly placed his shot in the top corner of the net.

Frustration started to creep into the Salts players and it wasn't long before ex-Pool midfielder Taylor was booked, a sight all too familiar to the Arthington Road faithful.

Another injury in defence to Studds meant Pool had to change from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation, a transition made with ease.

This enabled Nick Wilce to come into the right side of midfield and demonstrate his silky skills as his 'Finney on the wing' nickname would suggest.

Further chances from Chris Thompson, Wilce, Joyce and Singleton resulted in a third goal to kill off the cup tie as a game.

Match point was rightly given to Matt Healey who two hours after the game was still picking players out of his back pocket.