Horsforth St M.......3 Trinity Ath..........1

IN the first semi-final of the Wharfedale FA Airedale International Cup West Yorkshire League Premier Division side Horsforth St Margaret's defeated West Riding County Amateur Division Two side Baildon Trinity Athletic 3-1 in an entertaining game at Otley Town's Pool Road ground.

The game was a lot closer than the score suggests. St Margaret's were two goals up inside the first four minutes, the first goal must have been one of the quickest in the 94 year's history of the competition when Jamie Marshall scored after 18 seconds.

Marshall was on the mark again in the fourth minute. Trinity seemed overawed by the occasion and their young side was under pressure for the first 25 minutes as St Margaret's played some flowing football but failed to add to their lead.

Trinity then came more into the game and missed a great chance of pulling a goal back just before the interval. Then again missed a gilt-edged chance at the start of the second-half but eventually they pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute through Michael Haran.

Trinity had come back into the game very well after their horrendous start and made a good impression for a young side but their fate was sealed in the 75th minute when Mark Ackroyd scored the decisive goal for St Margaret's to take them through to the final. Referee Paul Varley and his assistants Reid Haddow and Jon Moss all had excellent games.

The second semi-final will take place tonight, Thursday, between Ilkley AFC and Pool AFC on the ground of Otley Town, Pool Road, Otley (kick-off 6.00pm). The referee will be Simon Powell of Rawdon, and his assistants David Wood of Ben Rhydding and Des Lobley of Burley-in-Wharfedale.

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