THE Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup should prove to be something of a classic this time out with the high flying treble chasing Guiseley Reserves taking on cup specialists Rawdon O ld Boys on what will now be a changed date for the final.

The final was originally scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at Guiseley AFC but with Guiseley AFC's first team being in the second leg of the UniBond League President's Cup final that night - and consequently all their officials, supporters etc expcetd to be at Runcorn - it ha sbeen decided to move the Wharfedela Challenge Cup final forward 24 hours.

The Rhodes' Coaches sponsored event will now take place on Wednesday, April 29, at Nethermoor Park with a 7.30 pm kick-off.

Guiseley Reserves were shocked by Harrogate League side Pool in their semi-final on Thursday at Otley Town going 2-0 down after being completely out of step in the first-half.

After Guiseley had missed a couple of early chances, Pool, in their first attack of note in the 12th minute, broke down the right and when the ball was played into the penalty area Carl Wilson slammed it into the net.

Worse was to follow and the scoreline certainly shocked the crowd and even Pool when they went further ahead in the 28th minute, the scorer again being Carl Wilson. Guiseley finally got back into the game with a scrambled goal in the 42nd minute by Roland Egege but this was nearly undone immediately when Nigel Muttick, in the Guiseley goal, made a wonderful save from a brilliant header by Wilson.

In the second-half Guiseley again failed to make an impression in front of goal until the 66th minute when the equaliser came from Julian Wilkes and then when it seemed the game may go into extra-time Guiseley's superior fitness came into the equation and they went into the final with goals by Gregg Watts (76 minutes), Julian Wilkes (86mins) and Lee Poole (89mins).

Pool AFC had played magnificently, especially when it was considered before the game that they may be overwhelmed by a cricket scoreline.

In the second semi-final played on Monday Rawdon Old Boys triumphed 2-0 over Westbrook Wanderers with both goals coming from Tony Gilks.

The Old Boys missed a great chance to take the lead in the first 10 minutes when with only the 'keeper to beat Stuart Clarke lifted the ball over the 'keeper's head and well over the bar.

Gilks opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when bad marking by Westbrook gave him all the time he needed to pick his spot.

Westbrook could not find the final touch and although they came a lot more into the game after the interval it was Rawdon who scored again. After missing an absolute sitter Gilks netted his second in the 76th minute.

Before an attendance of about 100 supporters the Old Boys dominated play for most of this semi-final tie and had they been quicker onto the ball and taken all their chances, particularly in the first -half, then they would have made life easier for themselves.

To their credit Westbrook battled hard and had their moments in both halves.

The Old Boys instead of playing the basics tried to be a little too fancy and a couple of chances went begging.

They led 1-0 at half-time but on resuming were put under some early pressure and only some resolute defending kept Westbrook out. Then in the 75th minute Gilks struck again and nearly got a hat trick a few minutes later. His shot touched a Westbrook defender's foot and instead of finishing up in the back of the net went over the bar. Gilks was a constant danger and proved to be a thorn in Westbrook's side.

In the closing stages Westbrook launched two final attacks.. One shot was tipped over the bar by the Old Boys goalkeeper Graham Bentley and the other just went wide.

Before the kick-off players of both sides observed silence for the late Harry Johnson, a former secretary, past chairman and life-member of Rawdon Old Boys.

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