ROUTE One Rovers are having a difficult season in the league, but the Bradford side played with real freedom in the West Riding County Cup on Monday night.

They thumped Armthorpe Welfare 6-3 at Marley Stadium, the artificial pitch there helping them beat the wintry conditions on the night.

In a wild encounter, Rovers took a 2-0 lead through Mohammed Hasnain and Anees Younis’ penalty.

But Armthorpe were level by the break, Harley McCormack and Ryan Ellison finding the net for the visitors.

And when Harry Charlotte put Welfare ahead on the hour mark, the Bradford side were staring down the barrel of a second-round exit.

But then Zak Khan stole the show, netting a brilliant hat-trick to emphatically decide the game.

Muhammad Arshad also found the back of the net for Rovers in the second half, as they sailed into the quarter-finals in style.

The snow and ice played havoc elsewhere, with Bradford (Park Avenue), Campion, Silsden and Brighouse Town all having midweek matches called off.

But Guiseley did manage to get a game in, as they travelled to Ashton United for a clash between two promotion rivals in the Northern Premier League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

And Mark Bower’s Lions moved up to second in the table with an excellent 4-2 away win.

Their night started badly, as Benny Couto got the better of his full back Sam Bentley and fired the ball low and hard beyond keeper Joe Cracknell to give Ashton an early lead.

But the Lions quickly restored parity, as Joe Ackroyd brilliantly backheeled a cross into Will Longbottom’s path, the in-form forward volleying the ball home emphatically.

Will Longbottom has been in superb form for Guiseley this season, and he added another two goals to his tally on Tuesday night.Will Longbottom has been in superb form for Guiseley this season, and he added another two goals to his tally on Tuesday night. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

The scores were level at 1-1 heading into the break, but Guiseley opened the scoring early in the second half, as Ackroyd again set up Longbottom to score from close range.

That same combination almost worked again soon after, only for Longbottom’s shot to hit the woodwork.

But the loose ball fell at the feet of full back Bentley, who scored his first-ever Guiseley goal from the rebound.

Adriano Moke’s superb pass then beat the offside trap, allowing Jordan Thewlis to add a fourth for Guiseley late on, with Luke Burke’s goal in the dying seconds for Ashton merely a consolation.