A GOAL by Paul Taite earned Bedale Athletic a place in the R T Raine Trophy and condemned Acklam Steelworks to only their third defeat of the season.

Acklam, whose losses have all come in cup competitions, had already beaten their visitors 6-1 on the opening day of the season and 3-1 in the County Cup in October.

On a pitch which was very heavy and muddy down the middle, both sides tried to play football. It was the visitors who created the first real chance, but the Acklam keeper made a brave save at the feet of two Bedale forwards.

The home side then had a couple of chances but failed to make the most of them and 20 minutes into the match Taite broke the deadlock with his 19th goal of the season.

In the second half both sides again tried to play football, but despite the home side having most of the play, good defending kept them at bay and the visitors were well worth the victory.

It will be Bedale's first cup final since joining the league and they will meet the winners of tomorrow's other semi-final between Thornaby YC and newcomers Wolviston Reserves.

In the league, Nunthorpe Athletic won 2-0 at Whitby side Fishburn Park in another match played on a heavy pitch.

Both sides created few clear-cut chances until the tenth minute when Phil Pinkney, who missed the midweek Stokesley defeat, scored his 16th of the season to give Nunthorpe the lead.

In the second half the home side pressed forward, but were unable to make the breakthrough, and with five minutes remaining Glyn Swinnerton fired home his eighth of the season to seal the visitors' win.

Stokesley SC were hoping to add another shock scalp to their belt after their midweek win over Nunthorpe, but visitors Hollybush United took a 24th minute lead with a screamer from Mark Thompson.

Three minutes later it was an uphill struggle for Stokesley when Johnny May made it 2-0.

Stokesley pressed forward in the second half, but Hollybush broke away through Ian Kirkbright, who scored his side's winner at Grangetown BC in midweek. He was again on target to secure the win for the visitors.