ON A morning that was as suited to cricket as football, Mill Lane 2004 and Beldon Sports booked their place in the Bradford Sunday Alliance League's GOALS INTERMEDIATE CUP final at Manningham Mills next month.
Both semi-finals were played at Rawdon Meadows, with Division 2A title favourites Mill Lane 2004 defeating Division 1A promotion contenders Upper George Wibsey 3-1, while Division 1B strugglers Beldon Sports surprised Division 1A champions Undercliffe Cricket Club 4-2.
The more experienced Lane gave a clinical display of finishing, with a double from Paul Hague and a well-finished strike from Liam Charles, Daniel Sharkey replying in what was a good cup tie.
Undercliffe Cricket Club looked vulnerable in defence and were two goals down at the interval but they showed some of their league form by scoring in the second half before Sports restored their two-goal cushion.
The cricketers again hit back, only for Sports to score again. Craig Ricketts bagged a brace for the winners, Denis Boltwood and Luke Shaw also scoring.
In the PREMIER DIVISION, leaders Peel Park recovered from going behind early doors at third-placed Stanningley Albion to win 3-1, player-manager Anthony Hannan restoring parity with a fantastic finish in only his second game back from a 'career-threatening' knee injury.
Albion's Luke Hunter then crucially missed a penalty and they couldn't cope with Alex Cusack in the second half.
He made it 2-1 and was then brought down in the box after 80 minutes, man of the match Chris Gunson converting the spot-kick.
Thornton United remain hot on Peel's heels, three points behind but with two games in hand after a 4-1 victory over Buttershaw Celtic, Deroy White hitting a brace and Dave Wilson and Josh Milner adding the other two.
FIRST DIVISION leaders Oakenshaw won 2-0 at Bradford Horton Sports to end the District Cup semi-finalists' title challenge, but second-placed Swaine Green produced a superb team display to beat Manningham 4-1 in a top-of-the-table clash, Andy Philp getting the man-of-the-match honours for his new club with a brace, his second being a superb volley.
Fellow striker Simon McQuiston, with his 13th goal in 14 matches, and tall midfielder Nathaniel Dacres, with a powerful header, also scored but White Eagles, playing their last away match of the season, kept up the pressure at the top with a 2-1 win over Cuedos Rangers on artificial grass.
White Eagles controlled the match, apart from a nervy last 20 minutes, Danny Facey and Curtis McMahon scoring before injuries took their toll and Rangers replied.
In DIVISION 1B, Brendan Hammond hit five goals in Prospect AFC's 7-2 demolition of Saltaire Rangers to take them four points clear of Olympic FC at the top of the table.
In a top-of-the-table clash in DIVISION 3A, Station Hotel remain in pole position after beating Salts 2-1 after going behind.
Sam Morton pulled the leaders level before Dan Doyle coolly netted the winner.
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