Pool AFC 0

Horsforth St Margaret's 4

POOL'S progress in the County Cup came to an abrupt halt with this defeat by a strong Horsforth side, and although the scoreline would suggest otherwise, Horsforth didn't have it all their own way.

The game started as expected, fast and furious and some of the challenges weren't for the feint-hearted but the football flowed from end to end.

If anything Pool were guilty of sitting too deep, allowing the visitors too much space but going forward they caused all sorts of problems in the last third of the pitch.

The first goal came five minutes before the break. With the tie evenly poised a speculative shot from 25 yards took a deflection onto the post and fell straight to Horsforth's centre-forward Elliott Beddard who from two yards out hammered the ball home.

Pool should have equalised immediately when Shaun Joyce ghosted past two defenders and his cross drifted agonisingly across the face of the goal.

The second-half started like the first with Pool looking to break down a resolute Horsforth rearguard with not much joy. The second and effectively killer goal came after ten minutes when a quick break down the left, leaving Pool's defence cold, saw the telling cross finished with aplomb.

At 2-0 down and with nothing to lose Pool pushed men forward trying to get something out of the game but in doing so left gaps at the back. Horsforth always looked dangerous on the break and the game was killed off when two of these attacks were finished off in a similar fashion.

To their credit Pool never gave up the chase and with better finishing to the good chances they did create things might have turned out differently. As it was, Horsforth moved into the next round.

Pool Reserves 2

Helperby Hotspurs 2

POOL Reserves came away with a creditable draw after a hard-fought match with Helperby, who started the stronger, but a combination of poor finishing and fine goalkeeping by Hall kept the game goalless for 30 minutes.

A breakaway by Pool with some fine forward play by Forbes and Forrest led to a pass to Howden for him to finish well. Five minutes later Forrest closed down the Helperby 'keeper and managed to force the ball into the open goal. Helperby started to pile on the pressure but strong challenges by Allinson, Bumby and Evans kept the score 2-0 at half-time.

The second-half was similar with Helperby on the attack. The Pool defence looked firm until a speculative shot crept into the net. With ten minutes to go Helperby were awarded a dubious penalty to level at 2-2. Late pressure by Pool led to nothing, however a draw was a fair result. Match Point went to Shaw.

Pool A 0

Ripon C Res 3

AN understrength Pool A were dealt a footballing lesson by a younger, fitter Ripon who stuck to playing simple, direct passing football.

Pool were under pressure from the outset and only battling performances from Jez Newns, Jones, Forbes and Taylor kept Ripon from opening their account early on.

When the breakthrough did come, it was due to slack marking at the back, the Ripon winger finding himself able to connect to a cross with a firm volley. Ripon added another before the break to leave the home side trailing 2-0 at the break.

The second-half saw Pool more determined and the defence seemed more able to contain the opposition, 'keeper Beale backing them up with a few fine saves.

This said, and despite endless graft from the midfield quartet of Cowgill, Tolson, Groves and Luke Newns, Pool were still under constant pressure and found themselves unable to provide any decent service to the industrious frontmen Smith and Wilson, the former going close once and having a decent penalty shout turned down by a somewhat ungenerous referee.

Dobson replaced the injured Jez Newns late on, only for Pool to concede again, Beale unfortunately fumbling an awkward low cross, leaving a grateful striker unable to miss from a yard. Despite this gaffe, 'keeper Beale picked up the match point for an otherwise flawless display, making good stops in either half. Pool will go away from this match knowing that a better execution of simple passing football is required if they are to claw themselves away from the wrong end of the table.

Pool Veterans 3

York Corinthians 1

POOL continued their recent run of victories with a hard-fought win against York. Pool started brightly with Budden and debutant John Copsey linking well up front. Budden broke clear early on and smashed a cracking shot into the roof of the net.

The midfield of Houlston, M Copsey, Ibbotson and Nixon controlled things in the middle with some crisp passing. This was rewarded when a corner from the right cleared everyone to be retrieved by Roger Waite, who clipped in a pin-point cross for Houlston to thunder his header from the penalty spot in off the bar. Carter and Tolson were introduced by the roll-on subs system.

York started to come into the game and showed they could play some neat football and began to dominate. Pool's back four of Higgins, Murphy, Waite and Calder held firm under sustained pressure. Thompson in goal had to be quick off his line on a few occasions. Pool were unlucky not to go 3-0 up when Nixon crossed and Tolson headed just wide.

York again started well in the second-half but Nixon broke away and rounded the 'keeper in style to make it 3-0. York pulled one back near the end. This was a good game and result for Pool, played in a good spirit and well refereed by Chris Leggatt.

POOL (at Rawdon Old Boys in the Wharfedale Cup, meet at 12.15 pm, kick-off 1.30 pm) from: S Thompson, G Dobson, G Studds, M Healey, G Evans, N Speight, A Staniforth, J Taylor, D Ireland, S Joyce, D Jackson, L Ingle, D Newbould, D Willoughby.

Reserves (home to Harold Styans, meet at 12.45 pm): C Wilkinson, Allinson, Bumby, Martin, Evans, Forbes, Shaw, Roberts, Megson, Kalisher, Howden. Subs Carter, Tweedie.

A Team (home to Park Row, meet at 1 pm) from: N Payne., L Newns, J Forbes, C Jones, D Groves, R Taylor, D Cowgill, P Tolson., A Wilson, R Smith, R Dickinson, D Forrest, R Metcalf, P Hall, G Chantler, S Boulton.