In the Craven Football League's Northern Plant Hire Challenge Trophy Colne Cricket Club reached the final by defeating Barrowford on penalties after their semi-final had ended 4-4 after extra time.
It was not a classic game but there was plenty of honest endeavour from both sides. Barrowford were the better team in the first half, penning Colne back in defence but poor finishing let them down and Colne withstood the onslaught, broke out of defence and scored. However Barrowford continued on top and just before the break levelled.
The second half saw Colne regain the lead within minutes of the kick-off and they looked to be in command until a mistake in their defence let in the equaliser. Then they went in front for the third time when they outpaced the Barrowford defenders and Barrowford looked to be out until a free kick was deftly headed home to take it to extra time.
Barrowford should then have gone ahead when they were awarded a penalty but they placed it wide. However in the second period of extra time they did go in front and looked to have won the tie but in the closing minutes Colne again beat the offside trap to make it 4-4. They then converted all their penalties while their keeper saved one of Barrowford's whose brave fight was over.
The game was well controlled by referee Harry Wellock who had a difficult task without assistant referees as both sides used the offside trap.
Colne's opponents in the final will not be decided for at least another two weeks. Oxenhope visited Embsay in their second round match and won 2-1. With both sides concentrating on defence it was a stalemate for long periods and it was no surprise that there was no score until 15 minutes from the end. Then Oxenhope were awarded a penalty and it was converted.
Embsay became more adventurous and pushing forward were caught at the back and went 2-0 down. However they did not give up hope and were rewarded when Liam Salkeld pulled a goal back, but despite constant pressure on the Oxenhope goal the equaliser would not come and Oxenhope now have the unenviable task of meeting Silsden in their quarter-final match.
In the Division Two League Cup Silsden progressed to a semi-final meeting with Sutton when they defeated Addingham 3-0 in their quarter-final.
Silsden were always in command but Addingham never gave up trying and with steadier finishing could have had a couple of goals.
On the league front Silsden's march to the Premier Division title went on with a 3-1 victory over Haworth which means they are now only one point behind leaders Oxenhope with three games in hand and it will be a brave man who bets against them.
Haworth battled hard throughout but were never a match for Silsden who they have to meet in a league cup semi-final which is a daunting prospect.
Keighley moved into third place with a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Addingham. It was a close-fought match with both sides missing scores of chances before Keighley got the goals that gave them victory.
Cononley are another club facing relegation and they did not help their cause when they lost 3-0 at home to Skipton Bulldogs. The Skiptoners are finding form late in the season and could prove a thorn in the sides of the top teams yet, although realistically they have no chance of the title.
Rimington and Cross Hills provided an entertaining match at Rimington which ended 2-2.
Cross Hills opened the scoring after 20 minutes with Rimington equalising on half-time. The South Craveners regained the lead in the second half but again Rimington's fighting spirit brought a deserved equaliser and a fair result.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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