TRAF AND NEWLANDS JOIN ANGEL IN LAST FOUR
Holders Newlands and Trafalgar join Angel in North Riding Cup semis. Report: Daniel Gregory. Pictures: Richard Ponter
Competition holders Newlands and fellow Scarborough side Trafalgar won their North Riding FA Sunday Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday to join Angel Athletic in the semi-finals.
Angel had already been handed their passage through to the last four of the competition after Thornaby Roundel conceded their scheduled clash at the Flamingo Land Stadium, but Newlands continued their defence of the trophy and Trafalgar also moved into semi-finals.
Trafalgar had to navigate a tricky quarter-final clash, but held their nerve from the penalty spot to edge out Yarm Town 3-2 on penas after a 3-3 draw in normal time.
Mikey Barker’s men led an end-to-end cup encounter inside 10 minutes after Joel
Ramm’s stunning strike from long range.
Yarm then won a penalty on 25 minutes that was duly despatched to restore parity.
A superb free-kick then saw the visitors move ahead for the first time in the contest and Yarm led 2-1 heading into the half-time interval.
Player-boss Barker introduced himself and youngster Tom Greenwood at the break and the pair linked up approaching the hour-mark with the latter applying the finishing touches to make it 2-2.
Trafalgar wrestled back the advantage with 15 minutes left on the clock courtesy of Sean Exley’s free-kick, but Yarm weren’t to be denied and after they’d won a hotlycontested penalty, it was duly scored to wrap things up at 3-3 and send the game straight to a shoot-out.
Yarm missed the first kick of the shoot-out and after Lewis Taylor, Nathan Vernon and Sean Exley scored their penalties, Ben Rowe proved the hero and saved a Yarm spot-kick to seal the home
side’s win.
Barker praised his entire side for their performance.
“That’s the best I’ve seen Trafalgar battle for a few years, great heart, grit and determination,” he said.
Dan Sheader’s Newlands side sealed a more comfortable passage to the semi-finals after a 4-0 victory against visitors Normanby Hall CC.
Dan Freer put Newlands 1-0 up when he applied to finishing touch to Zac Hansen’s superb ball into the box.
It was 2-0 when Freer won a penalty and Hansen netted from the penalty spot.
Hansen’s second put Newlands 3-0 up before Freer completed his brace to wrap up a comfortable win.
“We were outstanding, were always in control of the game,” said Sheader.
“It was a great team performance but Dan Freer stood out in the middle of the park.”
Newlands and Trafalgar were drawn to play each other in the semi-finals, while Angel travel to Coulby Newham & Nunthorpe with ties to be played Sunday May 2.