Pond shock Hammers in Trophy

The hosts put together back to back victories for the first time since March 2015 as they upset their previously unbeaten visitors.

A fine first half attacking display was followed by a stoic second half rear-guard action, including some outstanding saves from Dan Barnes.

Michael Barlow was exceptional in the engine room and he found leading scorer Paul Taylor for the opener. The front man calmly rounded Bilal Sheraz in the Hammers net.

The same combination produced again on nine minutes as Barlow once more teed up Taylor.

Barnes thwarted Hammers captain Wajid Nawaz one on one before the previous week’s hat-trick hero Steve Galloway made it 3-0.

Nawaz pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second period but Barlow broke down the left and squared for Taylor to complete his treble.

Hammers throw the kitchen sink at their hosts for the rest of the match. They made it 2-4 with an outstanding long range effort and curled home a third through a crowd of players in the closing seconds but it was Pond who secured an away day in round two against Wrenthorpe Rovers.

North Bridge were outclassed by Bradford League Division 1A side Wrose Bull, who beat them 11-1 at Claremont Playing Fields.

Hollins Holme had a great run in the West Riding Sunday Cup last season but their fate sealed from an early stage away to Crossflatts Village in Sunday’s first round.

They were 4-0 down after 25 minutes against a host team that visiting boss Steve Parker described as “not a bad side; well organised and quite physical.”

The Calder Valley side made some positional changes and got back into it after the break.

Andrew Butterworth rounded the ‘keeper to score and Joe Fielding scrambled a second.

Crossflatts stretched away to 6-2 but Butterworth added two more, completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot, as Hollins emerged defeated but with their pride intact.

Barge FC put their Premier Division struggles behind them as they enjoyed a 7-3 victory away at Amaranth FC in East Leeds.

A second round tie against Halifax champions Carrington FC isn’t what Matthew Bagshaw’s side would have been looking for however.

The two matches in the top section of the Halifax Sunday League both resulted in 6-3 away wins.

Carrington went back to the top with victory over bottom side Top Club, who showed some steel after shipping 18 goals against Feathers the previous week.

The other game also went to form with Queens Head making it three wins out of four at Mount Tabor’s expense.

Ryburn United and Oddfellows started the day level on points in Division One and finished it the same way after a 2-2 draw at Ripponden Wood in the section’s only game.

Triangle grabbed their opportunity to go third in Division Two with a 6-1 home win over bottom side Halifax Rangers Reserves.

Leaders Fountain Head dropped their first points when held 2-2 by Bradshaw on Savile Park.

Sunday’s fixtures

Premier Division: Barge FC v Hollins Holme, Halifax Hammers v Queens Head, Waiters Arms v Feathers.

Division One: Lee Mount v Ryburn United, Oddfellows v Halifax Rangers, Old Pond vHalifax Hammers Reserves, Ryburn Valley v King Cross Park.

Division Two: Bradshaw v Triangle, Halifax Rangers Reserves v North Bridge, Ovenden Phoenix v Fountain Head, Weavers v Halifax Amateurs.