IT WAS quarter-finals day in the Dales Cup last Saturday, and holders Bowes reached the last four again with a 4-1 win at Leyburn United.

The hosts took an early lead through Ritchie Weedall and they went on to dominate the first half, but Daniel Tully brought the holders level just before the break and that changed the whole complexion of the tie.

Top scorer Wayne Thwaites gave them the lead from the penalty spot with his 33rd goal of the season on the hour, while Rory Edwards and Andrew Smith then sealed their place in the semi-final in the closing stages.

Bowes will meet Spennithorne and Harmby in the last four, in a repeat of last years final, after they won 2-1 at Buck Inn Old Boys. James Clarkson gave Spenni the lead midway through the first half, but Gavin Barr brought the hosts level with a neat finish just two minutes later. The second half saw chances at both ends, but it was the visitors who clinched their place in a second semi-final of the season with a 25-yard thunderbolt from Adam Dinsdale 14 minutes from time.

Colburn Town remain on course for a second cup final meeting with Bowes after they won 4-0 at Unicorn FC. Graham White, Chris Dempster, Adam Taylor and an own goal from Andy Keay gave the visitors a comfortable win to send them into a semi-final clash with Reeth, who won a sevengoal thriller at Richmond Mavericks A.

Steve Bainbridge gave the visitors an early lead, but goals from Kevin Atkinson and Scott Fenney had the Mavs ahead by the break. Eric Sedge then brought Reeth level with 20 minutes left, but the hosts looked to have won it when Gordon Wade put them ahead again with less than two minutes remaining.

However in an amazing climax Bainbridge made it 3-3 with just seconds remaining and then, straight from the restart, he was brought down in the area by a challenge from Mike Fleming before slotting home the resulting penalty kick to send Reeth through.

In the league, the big news of the week saw bottom side Hawes B finally pick up their first point of the season at the 22nd time of asking thanks to a 1-1 draw at home to Askrigg United. Pete Beresford gave Hawes a half-time lead with a fine finish from 20 yards after just ten minutes and, while John Hodgson equalised for Askrigg just after the restart, both Nigel Chapman and Matt Sedgwick missed good chances to give Hawes all three points in the closing stages.

Buck Inn Broncos saw their title hopes all but disappear after they lost to Carperby Rovers for the second week in row. First-half strikes from Phil Stirling, his 30th goal of another prolific season, and Anth Weighall looked to have put the Broncos on their way to a much-needed victory, but Rovers turned things around in spectacular style after the break.

John Sullivan quickly put them right back into it and, although Lewis Wilkinson restored the Broncos’ two-goal advantage on the hour, John Pickard, with a hat-trick, and a second for Sullivan gave Rovers a thrilling 5-3 win.

The only other match played in the league saw Richmond Town Academy beat visitors Hawes United 4-2.

First half goals from Josh Patterson, Richard Bastow and Gareth Love looked to have set the Academy on their way to another comfortable victory, but Hawes were a different side after the break.

Darren Bell struck twice, the second of which came from the penalty spot after Jonathon Champion was brought down in the area to put them right back into it, but any hope of a comeback was soon over when Martyn Allen put through his own net.

However, Hawes finished strongly with Johnny Guy firing just wide, before Champion hit the bar. However, the damage had already been done and the Academy held on for all three points to jump above the Broncos into second place