Sporting Armley are proving successful in cup competitions this season, and this continued at the weekend with an impressive 3-0 victory away to Crossgates in the Albert West Memorial All Sports Awards Cup.
The Armley team was largely unchanged from the team that beat Cricketers Arms in the previous round, except for the absence of captain Kevin Bruce, which meant a return to the starting 11 for Liam Robinson.
John Moses took his usual place in goal, behind an unchanged defensive line-up of Phil Wheeler, Glenn King, Richard Moses and Mark Pearson.
James Lee took up the captain's armband and played centre midfield alongside the impressive Gareth Knight, with Bryant Coldwell on the right wing and Liam Robinson out left.
Dean Russell partnered Danny Goulden up front.
Sporting put in an outstanding display of football from start to finish, with plenty of passing and movement from the defence all the way through to attack. However, for all the intricate passing and movement, it was a long ball upfield from goalkeeper John Moses that created the opportunity for the opening goal.
Danny Goulden skillfully brought the long ball under control on the right wing, and cut inside on his left foot to power an unstoppable shot towards goal from outside the box. At first glance the shot appeared to be heading over the crossbar, but at the last second it dipped suddenly over the goalkeeper and smashed into the net Drogba-style.
Crossgates played a very narrow game, with everything they did coming through the centre circle. Gareth Knight had an outstanding game in that centre, winning everything and providing an extra protection to a back four who went on to record their first clean sheet of the season.
This narrow line-up presenting Armley with countless opportunities on the wing, particularly on the right, with Bryant Coldwell rampant in the first half up and down that flank.
In the second half Liam Robinson got more of the ball on the left flank as Armley dominated and continued to press for goal number two. It finally came after Dean Russell was brought down on the edge of the box in a deliberate foul that was only punished with a yellow by the referee.
Knight stepped up to take the free kick and fired a low drive past the wall which took a large deflection before smashing the back of the net for 2-0.
Goal scorer Danny Goulden then made way for Karl Smith who replaced him up front, providing a fresh injection of pace against an already tiring back line.
Eventually Armley got their third and final goal courtesy of Gareth Knight winning a challenge in his own half and playing a great through ball down the left for Liam Robinson.
Robinson cut inside as he entered the penalty area and curled an unstoppable shot low past the keeper and into the far corner of the goal. It was Robinson's 8th goal in 8 games for Armley (he also has 8 assists!).
Phil Wheeler then made way for Wayne Howe to get some minutes, with a bit of shuffling with Coldwell moving to right back and Smith to right midfield to allow Howe a run up front.
Armley continued to attack into the final minutes, and were unlucky not the score again when Pearson was played through on goal by Howe. His shot just bobbling past the far post when it looked certain that Pearson would smash the ball home from close range.
Smith was then denied a goal and penalty claim in the last minute when with his shot which was heading into an empty net was handled inside the area by a sliding defender. The referee waved play on and the game finished 3-0.
The result means a semi-final showdown next week against Wortley Reserves.
