THE semi-final of the Alan Hood Charity Cup awaits Richmond Town following their 1-0 win at Windscale last Saturday, with Kalumn Holbrook's 53rd-minute strike the difference between the two sides.

Richmond started the game playing their quick tempo football and enjoying plenty of possession, but early chances for Holbrook and Mike Layfield were blocked, while James Coatsworth headed wide.

Windscale were struggling to get behind Richmond's back line and two efforts from long range failed to trouble Karl Latcham before the home side missed a real chance to go in front when the Town keeper was called upon to keep out Jordan Livingstone's header.

Further chances fell to Holbrook, while Nathan O'Conner had a shot cleared off the line and Ben Darville miscued a header with all the goal to aim at.

In the second half, Latcham punched away Laurie Black's shot before Holbrook gave Richmond the lead when he slid in at the far post to convert a good move involving O'Conner, Darville and Layfield.

Layfield was disappointed not to double the lead minutes later when he glanced a header across goal and wide from a Holbrook corner.

Darville sprung the offside trap on the hour mark, but his shot was cleared by James Dolan in the Windscale goal, before an innocuous challenge saw Layfield suffer a shoulder injury which could keep the midfielder out for several weeks.

The injury saw the introduction of Jason Newall, making his first appearance of the season following a lengthy knee injury. The Cumbrians made Town battle right up to the final whistle and it required two Latcham saves within a minute of each other to ensure their place in the last four.

In midweek, Richmond took all three points for the second time this season against Redcar Athletic, most people's favourites for this year's league title. With limited numbers to choose from, Chris Lax's team produced an heroic performance.

Town took a 17th-minute lead after Redcar keeper Matthew Berry missed his kick when clearing a back pass. Colin Anderson pounced and kept his composure to look up and find Chris Pattison, who fired home from 12 yards out.

Three minutes later, Ben Darville picked out Pattison, who made it 2-0 when he fired across a crowded box into the far corner.

Andy Jennings pulled one back for Redcar from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after Karl Latcham had brought down Sam Webster.

With the second half only three minutes old, Darville won the ball on the halfway line and made a tremendous run before crossing for Mike Layfield to give Berry no chance.

Jennings again reduced the deficit from the spot after 73 minutes before his free kick from 25 yards was kept out by Latcham, but Charlie Raby tapped home the rebound to level the scores after 78 minutes.

Town survived a scare when another free kick beat Latcham and went in, but the linesman ruled that a Redcar player was standing in an offside position, impeding Latcham’s view.

Richmond showed great character and, with two minutes left, Anderson found Darville on the left side of the box and he smashed the ball into the net.

Redcar kept pumping the ball up to the giant Jennings, who produced a great header which forced an excellent save from Latcham before the referee finally brought an end to proceedings in the eighth minute of added-on time.