Addingham Res.......5

Kilbride.....................3

Addingham Reserves took on Kilbride at home in the latest round of the Cup. Indeed, Addingham were out for revenge having been beaten 6-1 away by Kilbride only two weeks before in the league.

As the game kicked-off Addingham led by their manager Paul Sunderland, started with their usual high pace passing the ball quite well.

Their early quick movement and home advantage seemed to catch Kilbride off guard and it was obvious that they were finding it hard to cope. This soon led to Addingham's first goal which came on ten minutes. A ball put through by Steven Gibson was met in Kilbride's box by Craig Minto who scored perhaps the easiest goal of his short career.

However, Addingham, not for the first time this season allowed their concentration to then waiver. On 17 minutes they conceded a bad free-kick and as the wall was assembled it was clear to see that it offered no protection to the right-hand side of Addingham's goal. Kilbride capitalised and blasted the ball straight into the top corner of Addingham's goal.

However, although Addingham lacked concentration, they surely did not lack resolve. Backed by their veteran defenders, Steve Vickers and Kevin Bates, as a team they pushed forward. On 25 minutes, after sustained Addingham pressure, came their second goal. Addingham striker Graham Johnson turned provider for Tony Robertshaw who turned his marker and stroked the ball past the diving 'keeper.

This time though, Addingham learned from the first goal and maintained their concentration. Both teams had chances but to the delight of Addingham's fans, it was they who scored again before the break to make it 3-1. Just to show his goal was no fluke, Robertshaw, from a ball again played in from the left, took it past the Kilbride keeper and calmly put it into the net. However, unbelievably, there was more to come. In the 45th minute, Steve Gibson put through a delightful ball on the half-way mark which split Kilbride's defence. This was again met by Robertshaw who ran some considerable distance with the ball.

He had an easy chance to play the ball square to Graham Johnson but sensing his hat-trick he blasted the ball straight through Kilbride's 'keeper to set up a 4-1 score-line at half-time.

In the second-half it was Kilbride to their credit who started well. It would have been easy for them to go to pieces being 4-1 down. Indeed, they rattled a sleepy Addingham and scored on the 50th minute. It was Addingham who were struggling to cope and this led again to another goal by Kilbride on 55 minutes to put the score at 4-3.

Soon after, it could have been worse for Addingham had it not been for some great saves and strong handling by their 'keeper Nick McNeice.

Before it was too late Addingham did gather themselves and on 65 minutes, their left winger, Mick Daley, from an almost free shot blasted the ball past the Kilbride keeper to make it 5-3 and effectively tie up the game. Addingham had the better of the rest of the match and indeed what looked to be a perfectly good goal by Robertshaw, was disallowed for off-side.

Addingham had played brilliantly and special mention must go out to their defence for although Addingham did concede three goals, it could have been many more but for the 'old-school' defending by their defensive quartet. Although there is no Man-of-the-Match in cup games, it was surely deserved by Robertshaw for his brilliant hat-trick and link-up play.