Alwoodley 1 Otley Town 3

Otley Town are fast buildiing a reputation as cup experts.

Already through to the final of the Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup where they will defend their title against Ilkley Town in April, they are now in the last four of the West Riding County Cup.

They clinched their semi-final place with victory over and Alwoodley side from the Yorkshire Old Boys League, who had claimed some notable scalps on their way to the quarter finals .

Their victims included two teams from the West Yorkshire Premier League so they went into the game at the Old Showground believing that, with a little luck, they could continue their cup journey.

Otley were quietly confident that if they applied themselves properly their superior technical ability would see them through to the semi-finals for the first time in a decade.

Town started well and were monopolising possession but didn’t create any real goal scoring opportunities.

Alwoodley were playing on the break using their skilful right winger to launch their counter attacks and on several occasions he got into dangerous one-on- ones with Tom Chadwick. So much so that Chris Dowson was called on to double up on the elusive forward whenever the hazard signs appeared.

With this danger identified and partially nullified, Town went about their work well skilfully switching the ball from wing to wing as they denied Alwoodley the chance to get a foothold.

All seemed to be going well for Otley until a rare mistimed a tackle from skipper Jamie Simms just inside the box resulted in a soft penalty for Alwoodley after 25 minutes.

Fortunately for Otley, keeper Gavin Phillis, in excellent form all season, dived to his right to make a magnificent save.

Reprieved, Otley picked up their game again and deservedly took the lead after 30 minutes when an in-swinging corner from the right was coolly turned in from close range by defender James Davey.

Alwoodley were now reeling, after having seen the game change completely in a five-minute period, and it was only to get worse for them as Otley attacked in numbers down the left.

Following a fine move involving Chadwick, Dowson and Chris Davey, the ball was played square to Joe Hendrie standing on the edge of the box and his fine righ