Sedge's cup dream in the balance

10:50pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

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The second leg of the Northern Counties East President's Cup final could not be more finely balanced after tonight's 1-1 draw between LIVERSEDGE and Armthorpe Welfare.

Sedge took the lead through Nicky Boshell's 25-yard shot early in the game but Welfare hit back in the 70th minute.

Home advantage in the first leg almost paid off as Sedge went close through Luke Sherman and substitute Noel Whittaker in the last ten minutes.

In the Premier Division, THACKLEY were held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Shirebrook Town.

Thackley came close to breaking the deadlock on three occasions: Germaine Springer had a shot headed off the line, with many of his team-mates claiming it was over; Matt Mathers saw an effort hacked away after he had beaten the keeper; and Ian Horrocks sent in a volley that dipped over the keeper but cannoned back off the bar.

Meanwhile, BRADFORD PARK AVENUE were denied the chance to go top of the UniBond Division One North table when their fixture at Newcastle Blue Star was postponed on health and safety issues.

Blue Star's ground, a fine stadium they share with Guinness Premiership rugby union outfit Newcastle Falcons, is susceptible to high winds.

A recent fixture against Curzon Ashton, one of Avenue's title rivals, was abandoned after 15 minutes because advertising boards were blowing off the structure.

GUISELEY'S Premier Division fixture at Leek Town went the same way after overnight rain left the Staffordshire club's pitch waterlogged.

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