Sunday League: Traf book spot in last eight of County Cup

A double from central midfielder Craig put the visitors in the driving seat at Grangetown, and although the home side pulled level with two strikes a Gaz Thomas header just before half-time was a suitable reward for Liam Salt’s side who had been on top for most of the opening period.

A Danny White header made it 4-2 but Grangetown scored again to boost the hosts’ hopes of a revival, but Craig then completed his hat-trick to restore Traf’s two-goal lead, and five minutes from time Gaz Jordan added a sixth to ease Traf through to the final eight.

Boss Liam Salt was delighted with his side’s display: “We had a lot of the senior players missing so it was great to get a win at a tough place like Grangetown.

“The whole team played very well but Dean Craig probably deserves the man of the match award for his hat-trick and a strong display in the centre of midfield,”

Division one basement club Itis Itis claimed a fine 2-1 win at Fylingdales to move into the semi-finals of the Senior Cup.

Isaac Sands opened the scoring for the visitors, who added a second through sub Robin Dixon.

Shortly after this goal stand-in Itis Itis goalkeeper Carl Marton retaliated to a strong challenge by a home player, which sparked a mass brawl, and after the dust settled Marton was sent off.

The visitors defended stoutly to hang onto their lead until the final minute when an own goal halved the deficit, but it came too late to save Fylingdales from a cup exit.

Centre-back Jake Acton was named as the man of the match for Itis Itis, who now seemed to have rallied after almost folding a few months ago due to a lack of players.

Commercial continued their revival with a superb comeback 4-1 win at Whitby Wanderers.

Geoff Osguthorpe’s side had the better chances of the first half but they were hit with a sucker punch two minutes before half-time when Wanderers’ man of the match Andre Marshall netted with a free-kick.

The visitors maintained their attacking formation with three strikers after the break and their persistence paid off in the 55th minute when Macaulay Youngson was brought down in the area and keeper Jamie Fowler slotted in the penalty.

Commercial went ahead through Youngson 10 minutes later, and further goals from Neil Forsyth and Robin Coulson in the next few minutes wrapped up the victory for the away side.

Osguthorpe said: “We have now won two and drawn one in our last four games and I am very encouraged with our improvement on the pitch.

“Today Stu Wallace shone in the middle of the park along with our skipper Neil Forsyth but everyone played well so it is hard to pick a man of the match.”

West Pier also secured their place in the final four thanks to a 3-0 home win against Klosters.

After a goalless first half, Pier took the lead - with the wind at their backs - in the second period when defender Sam Hyde poked home from close range after a goalmouth scramble following a Martin Cooper corner.

Fifteen minutes from time Cam Dobson took advantage of hesitancy in the Klosters defence to head in Pier’s second, and Lee Luntley then headed into his own net to compound the misery for Rhys Howell’s team.

Pier boss Paddy Parke said: “We worked hard, especially in the first half against the wind, as a team so it is unfair to single one lad out. The man of the match award should go to the whole squad.”

Trafalgar Reserves roared back from 3-1 down to win 7-4 at Cayton Corinthians and take a step closer to retaining the second division crown.

Joe Logan put the visitors ahead only for Cayton to race into a 3-1 lead with the strong wind at their backs, but Mikey Barker struck a second before half-time to boost the visitors, and the same player then struck twice in the first 20 minutes of the second half to put Traf 4-3 ahead - and complete his hat-trick.

Al Wray’s thumping shot saw Traf go two goals clear, only for Cayton to pull it back to 5-4.

Jack Pinder then scored with an audacious strike, hooking the goal over his head - with his back to goal 45 yards out - and it looped over the home keeper. Logan added his second in similar style but from 30 yards out.

Taylor Jordan was named as the man of the match for a cracking display on the right wing.

Scarborough Sports Barrowcliff consolidated second spot with a 4-2 win at West Riding, denting the home side’s fading chances of challenging Trafalgar Reserves for the title.

The Barrowcliff lads raced into a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, Sean Naylor netting in the fifth and 20th minutes with a Craig Spooner effort sandwiched inbetween.

Two minutes before half-time Kyle Ireland pulled a goal back for Riding, and the introduction of new recruit Jacob Codling seemed to spark the home side into life and they pulled it back to 3-2 with a 30-yard lob from Curtis Rose.

Zac Hansen made sure of the win for Mick Ingle and Tony Walker’s side five minutes from time.

Walker said: “The back five of Dom Leith, Nathan Stone, Sam Turner, Sheldon Fielding and Dave Young were very strong, while the midfield of Spooner, Chris Hannam and Shane Holt also excelled and the strikers Hansen and Naylor also did well. But it was keeper Josh Bowmaker who was man of the match as he made crucial saves at important moments in the game.”

Heslerton’s 3-2 win at Ayton saw them climb to third place in the league table.

Ayton’s 16-year-old centre-back James Reddish scored his first-ever competitive goal to put the hosts in front after only three minutes, rifling the ball past the Heslerton keeper.

Kieran Friett then hit the post when he had a one-on-one with the keeper and this proved crucial as the visitors went straight down the other end to level through their man of the match Mikey Clarke.

Mike Webster put the visitors ahead before half-time, with Mark Plumpton’s hosts paying the price for some more sloppy finishing.

Super-sub Josh Beach added a third from close-range, and although Mike Grayshan, also on as a sub, pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 88th minute from a free-kick it was too late to save Ayton.

The six clear chances that Ayton managed to miss proved costly as Heslerton’s cutting edge giving them the points in a very entertaining clash.

Alma claimed revenge for their cup defeat against Roscoes Bar last week with a shock 2-1 win at the Gallows Close side in the league.

Player-manager Philip Clothier robbed Roscoes left-back John Butcher of possession and he whipped in a cross for Keith Savage to nod home at the far post.

After the break Savage turned provider as he beat the offside trap to square a pass to debutant James Day, who slotted home.

The hosts pulled a goal back through Scott Newlands and then had a strong shout for a penalty awarded as a free-kick instead and the visitors defended well to maintain their advantage and secure their third win of the season.

Savage and left-back Thomas Gavin were the joint-winners of the man of the match for Alma, but Clothier was pleased with his team’s overall efforts in bouncing back from their cup defeat.

Defender Jack Worthy was star man for a below-par Roscoes side, winning everything in the air and on the floor in a powerful show.

Debutant Mark Craven scored twice to fire Newlands Reserves to a 3-0 win at Scarborough Spa.

Fellow new striker Adrian Kiatkowski launched a ball over the top to set up Craven to fire in his opener and a stunning looping 40-yard volley from Joe Sunter made it 2-0 to Dave Gaddass’ side.

Man of the match Craven capped the win with his second goal, heading in at the far post from a corner.

A Ben Thompson hat-trick steered Fylingdales Reserves to a 5-3 win at Hull Uni.

Thompson and Josh Hopley put Dales in front early on and although the hosts replied with a penalty, the visitors restored their two-goal lead early in the second half through Thompson.

The students pulled it back to 3-2, but man of the match Sam Bailey made it 4-2 and Thompson completed his hat-trick to wrap up the win, although Hull Uni did strike again before the final whistle.