League Cup Semi-Final

Kneeton Park 3 Topcliffe 0

KNEETON Park kept their season alive as they made it into the final of the League Cup with an impressive semi-final victory over Topcliffe at Middleton Tyas last Sunday.

The visitors arrived on the back of a dreadful run of four straight defeats which had seen their title hopes all but disappear, so this was the last chance for them to win some silverware this season.

But Kneeton Park, one point and one place above them in the league, were in no mood for sympathy as they looked to end their own season with a trophy.

With a strong wind making good football difficult, chances were at a premium in the early stages. It was 21 minutes before either team got their first real sight of goal when Kneeton Park full back Ray Headon nodded over Andy Kelly's left-wing corner from close range.

But that seemed to bring the game to life and within four minutes Kneeton had taken the lead. The lively Charlie Cox burst clear of the Topcliffe defence and ran through before finishing well from ten yards.

A minute later it was almost 2-0 when Tim Hole sent a shot fizzing just wide of the far post with Topcliffe keeper Paul Foster well beaten.

The home side did have the ball in the net again in the 32nd minute when Danny Cartwright got clear down the right and squared for Cox to knock in, but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.

That seemed to act as a wake-up call for Topcliffe and they finally began to get their game together. With the wind at their backs they now started to pass the ball around well, but they could find no way past the Kneeton defence, superbly marshalled by Jason Newell and Danny Shoulder.

But, with the pace of Cox and Cartwright up front, the home side were always dangerous on the break and they nearly made it count in the 39th minute. Cox released Wayne Gredziak through the middle, but Foster was quickly out of his goal to save at his feet.

Topcliffe did finish the half on top and a flowing move involving Matthew Thomas, James Machin and Michael Hodgson almost brought them an equaliser. But Nigel Binks put his effort just wide of the post and the home side were still ahead at the break.

With the wind now in their favour Kneeton looked to take full advantage in the second half, but Topcliffe should have drawn level in the 49th minute. A lovely ball from Chris Moores put Binks in through the centre, but he could not get enough power in his shot and Danny Dale in the Kneeton goal was able to deny him.

That proved to be the last real chance the visitors had of reaching the final as Kneeton went on to dominate most of the second half.

In the 55th minute a long throw from Headon was flicked on at the near post by Newell, but Foster did well to keep it out. Ten minutes later, Cartwright got clear down the left and pulled the ball back to Cox, but, just as he was about to fire into the empty net, Ben Cowan got across to make an important block.

With Topcliffe now struggling to get out of their own half it seemed only a matter of time before the home side got a second, but it did not arrive until ten minutes from time.

Another long throw from Headon found Gredziak at the far post and he nodded in from close range to put Kneeton in the driving seat.

Almost immediately Topcliffe had a great chance to get themselves back in it. A great move down the right ended with substitute Gareth Barber shooting just wide of the far post, but Kneeton were in no mood to release their grip on the match.

With five minutes left, substitute Sam Bainbridge got clear down the right and played a clever one-two with Cartwright, but shot into the side netting.

Kneeton then almost repeated their second goal when Headon's long throw was again met by Gredziak at the far post, but this time Richard Balderston was on hand to knock it off the line.

But Kneeton did get a third in the final minute to seal their place in the final. Gredziak got clear down the left before pulling the ball back to Bainbridge, who had the simple task of rolling it into the empty net.

Kneeton Park can now look forward to a final date against Unison on May 1 at Northallerton.