West Riding County Cup quarter-final: Harrogate Town 1 Bradford Park Avenue 3

BRADFORD Park Avenue repeated last season’s feat of knocking Vanarama National North rivals Harrogate Town out of the West Riding County Cup.

Avenue are therefore still on course to defend their trophy after reaching the semi-finals last night at the expense of Simon Weaver’s Harrogate.

However, Avenue had to sign Ashley Onitiri on loan from Albion Sports as an emergency keeper for the last-eight tie after first-choice Jon Worsnop picked up an injury in Satuday’s 1-0 league win at Worcester City.

Bradford’s other keeper, former Thackley and Silsden shot-stopper Ed Hall, was cup-tied after playing for Brighouse Town in an earlier round but Onitiri deputised well against last season’s runners-up.

There were chances for both sides before Mark Bower’s Avenue broke the deadlock in the 19th minute.

The home defence failed to clear a corner and Luke Dean scored with a deflected shot.

Harrogate equalised six minutes later when a superb cross from Louie Swain was headed home by Marcus Day, but parity lasted just a minute, with Lee Spires finding the top corner of Town’s net with a stunning effort from 30 yards.

The contest was all but over by the interval as Avenue increased their lead five minutes before half-time.

Midfielder Dean turned provider as his cross picked out Emile Sinclair.

The home side created chances as they battled to get back into the game in the second half but Harrogate keeper Chris Elliott was tested by Avenue substitute Nicky Boshell, who also clipped the bar with a later effort, before Onitiri denied Day a second goal with a finger-tip save.