Home ties for local pair in last 32

Hammers had a comfortable 6-2 win over fellow Halifax Sunday League side Feathers to earn a tie with Pudsey Liberal Club on December 6.

That promises top be a good test for Hammers as Pudsey brushed aside Ryburn United 8-0 on Sunday.

Hollins Holme got through on penalties for the second round running, this time by 5-4 at Woodman Batley Carr, and they will entertain Clifton Rangers in the third round.

Hammers went a goal down against the run of play on 12 minutes when stand in keeper Bilal Sheraz was unable to clear and a Feathers striker put the ball into an empty net,

Lamin Gitteh’s powerful shot into the bottom corner made it 1-1 and a great through ball from Kashif Akmal enabled Gitteh to round the ‘keeper and score.

Awais Khan and Matty Waller were denied by the Feathers ‘keeper.

On 43 minutes Ikhlaq Ahmed conceded a penalty but it was brilliantly saved by Sheraz.

It was all Hammers in the second half. Waller danced through to make it 3-1 from an acute angle but Feathers stayed in the hunt with a first-time shot from a quickly taken corner.

A Lamin solo effort completed his hat trick and substitute Jasim’s powerful shot from outside the area made it 5-2.

Just before the final whistle Kashif Akmal completed the scoring.

Hollins had beaten Pontefract Squash on penalties in the first round and they fired their way through again after it finished 3-3 following 90 minutes of action at Batley.

Hollins were in top form in the first half and surged into a 2-0 lead through George Bamford and Steve Senior.

The visitors gave the ball away more after the break. Woodman got one back but Greg Spink restored Hollins’ two-goal advantage with half an hour to go.

The home side got a second with 20 minutes left and levelled 10 minutes later when an expected whistle for a Woodman handball near half-way failed to materialise.

Both sides were successful with three of their first five penalties. Spink, Andy Butterworth and Rob Stansfield hit the target for Hollins but Bamford fired wide and Ryan Jeffries’ effort was saved.

Gareth Swine saved one of Woodman’s penalties and another was off target.

In sudden death, Senior made it 4-4 and when the hosts’ seventh effort was saved by Swaine, Rick Laycock clinched Hollins’ progress.

Hollins boss Joel Booth said: “We played our best football of the season in the first half and should have wrapped it up before penalties.”

Ovenden BCFC lost 3-1 away to Wetherby Athletic and Halifax Amateur conceded against Ventus United.

In the West Riding County Sunday Trophy, a first half brace from Wayne Crossley helped North Bridge progress to round three with a comfortable 6-1 defeat of Aire Athletic Reserves from Bingley.

They will now face either Nevi Leap or Batteyford Sporting Club.

Second-placed FC Bowling Green crushed Lee Mount 10-3 in the only match in the Halifax Sunday League’s top flight to trim Carrington’s lead to six points.

There were three games in Division One and Beehive and Crosskeys climbed to third with their expected win over bottom side Bradshaw but they only scrambled through 2-1.

Oddfellows were surprise 4-2 winners away to a Queen’s Head side which had won its previous four matches.

Triangle grabbed their opportunity to pick up a second win of the season and wipe out most of their goal difference deficit with a 15-1 thrashing of Royd Club.

David Scott’s visitors had only six men 20 minutes before kick off but managed to rustle together nine and that became 10 during the contest.

However, it was largely one-way traffic.

Ovenden Phoenix picked up their first league point of the season in Division Two with a 3-3 draw against a Top Club Reserves side who had beaten them 5-0 in the League Cup a week earlier.

Ovenden had four new faces and the improvement was clear to see, Liam Griffin in central midfield adding steel to the spine of the team.

Visitors Top Club took the lead when Sam Stubbs displayed quick feet in the area. Although his rasping drive was deflected away by the ‘keeper, Dominic McLeod rammed home the rebound.

Griffin strode unchallenged to the edge of the area before hitting a drive into the corner of the net to restore parity and he was also involved before Brandon Wilkinson cut inside and produced a good finish past Matthew Evans.

Top Club responded positively and Dan Thaxter’s pace put Phoenix on the back foot. A powerful Brad Main effort was blocked but Stubbs restored parity.

Jake Gibson rode a couple of challenges and fired Top Club in a 3-2 interval lead.

There were fewer chances in the second half but Rayner’s fine volley made it 3-3 before Wilkinson’s long range effort clipped a post.

Halifax Hammers Reserves were 4-2 winners against St Columbas.

Skipper Wajid Nawaz gave them the lead but Saints were hopeful at 2-2 before Suhail Bashir and Nawaz took Hammers clear, the latter finishing with a hat-trick.

Weavers are third after a 4-0 win at home to bottom side North Bridges Reserves.