PHOENIX missed out on a place in the Premier Division Cup final with an agonising 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat on East Monday.

Martin Ross missed a golden opportunity to secure victory in the last minute of extra time, and was distraught after seeing his penalty attempt saved.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare, last season's beaten finalists, were determined to make it to the final for the second year in succession and chances were few and far between through normal time. Paul Linyard pulled off a couple of superb first half saves while Mick Gilmartin and Dale Hoyle both went close.

Graham Bairstow also pulled up a vital goal line clearance to keep the score sheet blank.

Many of the Phoenix players were tired after playing 120 minutes for St Annes in the Keighley Sunday Cup final the previous day. Mark Atkins had a particularly tough afternoon at the back after his hard work for Saints.

As the game entered injury time it was clear that one game could settle the tie and with just a minute of the extra period remaining Ross got his gilt-edged chance. The ball fell to him just 10 yards in front of an open goal, he flicked out his foot and saw the ball fly past the open net.

Penalties were scored by Ben Furness, Ben McCormack and Dale Hoyle, but Ross and Joe Bryceland saw their attempts saved.

The team is still on target to win the league and are five points clear of Brighouse Town with a game in hand. Their match against Marsden on Saturday was abandoned at half time after a torrential downpour left the pitch waterlogged.

Steeton continued their last-ditch battle against relegation with a 4-0 victory over Dynamoes in Division Two. James Gill hammered home two goals and was backed up by strikes from Keith Bailey and Alex Familio.

Phoenix Reserves lost at Kinsley Boys, going down 5-1 after losing a player with injury after just 10 minutes. They were forced to play the rest of the game with just 10 men and a Richard Clarkson goal late in the game was little consolation.

Keighley Shamrocks raced away with a 6-1 victory over Ovenden Reserves on Wednesday. Andy Burns scored a hat-trick and was back up by goals from Howard Wellwood, Gavin Fynn and Steve Pamment.

Shamrocks Reserves went down 4-2 to Ardsley Celtic in Division Four with goals from Sonley and Condon.

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