Harlow Hill 1

Burley Trojans 3

BURLEY Trojans showed their resilience as they bounced back from last week's disappointment and an indifferent first-half showing to eventually overcome a dogged Harlow Hill side who played most of the second-half with ten men as midfielder Mark Hartley was sent off.

Trojans are now unbeaten in all cup competitions this season which is a marked contrast to last year when they fell at the first hurdle every time.

Once again manager Gary Shankland was forced to ring the changes and it is a mark of the depth of his squad this season that Trojans are now able to overcome the absence of key players and still perform effectively.

A scrappy first-half saw little in the way of genuine goalmouth action and the best that Trojans could muster were a couple of wayward efforts from skipper Kieren Hanogue and Jonny Keith.

Harlow's best moments generally involved midfielder Dave Jones and from his telling pass Andy Pears went close. Pears also profited from some slack defending by Ian McKain but Chris Hargreaves saved well to spare the blushes of his team mate.

Pears finally got his reward after 20 minutes when Trojans failed to deal with a right wing corner and, after what seemed an eternity the ball fell to Pears and although he did not make the cleanest of contacts his shot from eight yards was too good for Hargreaves.

Referee Mr Barker had to be strong to keep a lid on things as the tackles began to fly in, cautioning the home side's Leo Esposito and Pears and others were fortunate not to follow as tempers frayed.

The game effectively turned on an incident ten minutes into the second-half when Hartley, convinced that he had been denied a throw in, hurled the ball at the assistant referee and was promptly red carded by Mr Barker.

This moment of madness was to prove costly as Trojans struck twice inside the next five minutes. Richard Wood's hanging cross was met by Stuart Dibb and his looping header eluded Michael Reccia in the Harlow goal and then Tom Higman jinked his way through before firing in a crisp low drive.

Hargreaves saved well from Andy Storey and was grateful to see a Pears shot bounce to safety as it bobbled in front of him as Harlow battled gamely to find a way back in to the tie.

Wood wrapped things up 15 minutes from time when he raced clear and drew the 'keeper before coolly slotting home. Wood almost added a fourth when his sublime chip was clawed to safety from under the bar by Reccia.

Trojans deservedly progress into the quarter-finals and Shankland picked up the Man-of-the-Match award as he led the line well throughout.

l Trojans entertain newcomers Garforth Town Reserves on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.