Quaife's late double for Burley seals win

(after extra time)

BURLEY Trojans secured their place in the second round of the League Cup - but not before surviving a real scare from Saints.

The home side surrendered a three goal advantage before skipper Nick Quaife settled the tie with two goals in extra time.

It had all seemed plain sailing for Trojans as they cruised into a two goal half time lead in dreadful conditions on The Rec. Firstly Jonny Lofthouse eluded the visitors defence before seeing his driven cross diverted into the net by a Saints defender on twenty five minutes.

Trojans could have added to their lead with midfielder Marcus McLeod the tormenter in chief, seeing one shot well saved by Jerry Butler and two others flying just too high.

The second goal from Phil Constantine on the stroke of halftime had quality stamped all over it and, had it been scored in the Premiership, would have had the pundits drooling.

Goalkeeper Stuart Forrest played a short clearance to Chris Lockwood and the ball was moved swiftly up the right flank via Craig Swanston and Lofthouse who flicked an intelligent pass inside to Chris Connolly. The centre forward burst clear of the Saints defence and centred for Constantine to rise and power home a bullet header.

Trojans were flying and Lofthouse claimed the third on the hour when he cheekily backheeled in after McLeod had shot goalwards from a Connolly corner.

Colin Abbott raised Saints hopes when he headed in a fine goal from the impressive John Grainger's cross. A defensive mix up allowed Saints to snatch a second from close range with ten minutes remaining and set up a grandstand finale. Trojans rallied and substitute Pete Sumner headed over from a Connolly cross as Butler's goal led a charmed life.

None more so than when he came out of his area and scuffed a clearance to Connolly 35 yards out.

Trojans leading scorer steadied himself before despatching the ball into the net with aplomb only to see his effort chalked off for a foul by Sumner on the keeper as he retreated.

With 90 minutes up on the clock Saints broke and a last ditch tackle from Lofthouse resulted in a free kick twenty yards from goal. After a delay Wayne Barron stepped up to curl his free kick beyond the wall and the despairing dive of Forrest to send the tie into extra time.

Trojans had to dig deep and were rewarded five minutes into the first period when Quaife, released from his midfield duties, put them back in front from close range from a Lofthouse cross.

The same pair combined again at the beginning of the second period to extend the lead with Quaife heading in when Lofthouse's deep cross eluded Butler.

It was a measure of the battling qualities of Saints that they still did not give up and hauled themselves back into contention from the penalty spot when Jonny Clarkson was harshly adjudged to have fouled a forward. It was rough justice on Clarkson who was narrowly pipped to match point by Quaife.

On Saturday Trojans travel to Heckmondwike Town for a County Cup Second Round tie, kick-off 2pm.

l Burley Trojans have announced a new kit sponsorship deal with local retailer Leeson's.

The deal maintains the links that the club have had with Leeson's spanning a number of years.

Park Row Associates...1 Trojans Reserves...6

FOUR goal Gareth Goodison was the star of the show as Trojans made it three wins on the bounce to climb two places to fourth in Division Three.

The young centre forward is on fire this season and his strike partner Gary Shankland weighed in with a brace as the League's new boys were brushed aside.

In a first-half of three penalties Goodison opened the scoring from the spot when Steve Hitchen's burst into the box was abruptly halted by a home defender.

Goodison showed remarkable coolness to stroke his shot high into the top corner.

Trojans second penalty came courtesy of a foul on Goodison but this time his touch from the spot was less assured allowing keeper Malcolm Law to save but the rebound fell kindly for him to prod home.

Trojans third came as the result of a flowing move involving started by Rob Wheeler and when newcomer Kieran Hanogue crossed Shankland rose to send his header rocketing past Law.

Park Row gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they reduced the arrears from the spot before the interval when John Mutton was guilty of bringing down a forward in the area.

The second-half was one way traffic as the visitors continued to impose themselves with some slick passing football despite the difficult conditions.

Shankland's second and Trojans fourth followed Wheeler's long throw, to which the rangy striker reacted first and directed his header beyond Law into the far corner.

Goodison completed his hat-trick when he spun and shot through a crowded area and claimed his second successive match point near the end when he beat the offside trap and beat Law with a clinical finish.

l The Reserves entertain bottom club Wellington on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.