Five-star show seals place in last eight

Photo: Chris Sunderland

HEADS UP... Uppermill’S Lee Rainford (far right) challenges Paul Rowe, of Lower Hopton, during the West Riding FA Challenge Cup clash at Greenfield Paper Mill.

Uppermill 5, Lower Hopton 1
AMATEUR FOOTBALL: UPPERMILL progressed to the quarter-finals of the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup following a magnificent victory over Lower Hopton at Greenfield Paper Mill.

It was a case of fourth time lucky for this particular fixture as the previous three attempts to stage the eagerly-anticipated tie proved fruitless because of a waterlogged pitch.

Uppermill looked the part from the first whistle as they completely overpowered their more illustrious opposition, with Dave Taylor’s hat-trick the highlight of a quite scintillating display.

This was only Uppermill’s second competitive match since mid-November. But there wasn’t a hint of ring-rustiness as the local side completely overwhelmed their West Riding FA Premier League opposition.

Jubilant Uppermill manager Simon Tait said: “This must be the shock result of the competition so far because Lower Hopton are something like four levels above us.

“They are a good team but we just got at them right away and the early goal helped us.

“It was a magnificent performance and easily our best result for quite some time.

“The most impressive aspect was that we dominated the opposition, kept up the pace and work rate and passed the ball well for the full 90 minutes.

“This will be vital for the remainder of the season if we are to realise our potential.”

Uppermill began the game with serious intent and peppered the Lower Hopton goal from all angles.

And after 15 minutes, Tait’s side went ahead when Taylor swept home an inviting cross from eight yards.

Taylor made it 2-0 with a tremendous 20-yard volley eight minutes after the break.

Goal number three came when a poor kick-out from the Lower Hopton goalkeeper landed at the feet of Uppermill’s Mark Jackson.

He squared the ball for Joel Longmore to calmly slot home.

Jackson’s low drive 15 minutes from time found the bottom corner of the net, before Taylor completed his hat-trick with another close range effort.

Lower Hopton’s consolation goal arrived five minutes before the final whistle.

In-form Uppermill will fancy their chances in tomorrow’s quarter-final tie.

They face an away trip to Bay Athletic who, like Lower Hopton, play their football in the top flight of the West Riding County League.

Tait welcomes back Kristian Ventress and James Thompson after injury.

The manager said: “It will be another tough one as Bay are flying in the league at the moment, but who knows what can happen.”


Springhead savour magnificent seven
SPRINGHEAD produced their best performance of the season in a 7-2 home victory over Leigh Athletic in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Premier Division.

The hosts were in front after 25 minutes when skipper Paul Stevenson’s shot was palmed into the path of Adam Young, who tapped in.

Mark Hopwood’s fine chip from the edge of the box doubled the lead just before the half-time whistle.

A minute after the restart Hopwood got on the end of Richard Bennett’s cross to make it 3-0, and five minutes later Stevenson got in on the act.

Bennett extended the advantage after an hour, shortly before Young completed his brace with a neat finish.

The visitors converted a rare chance with 10 minutes remaining, before substitute Josh Walker netted for Springhead.

Leigh mustered a consolation strike in the dying seconds.

Manchester League Title hopefuls Avro suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Bury Amateurs.

Boss Phil Brown will look for a swift response from his players in order to get their pursuit of top spot back on track.

Fred Hardicre’s Hollinwood put four goals past Atherton Town — only for the visitors to score eight.

Hollinwood remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Neighbours Royton Town were beaten 2-0 at Manchester Gregorians.

Town are now one-from-bottom in the table, six points ahead of Hollinwood with four games in hand.

They have also played less matches than the teams above them, so a positive run of results will take Town away from the danger zone.