First Division Ossett Albion needed extra-time to dispose of Second Division Brighouse Sports 2-1 to reach the Under 12 League Cup Final.
In the showpiece on April 26, Ossett will face Shelley, who earned their place with a 3-2 victory over Ryburn United.
In their semi-final, Brighouse looked nervous at the start and, maybe, gave their opponents a little too much respect, but once they picked themselves up there was little to choose between the sides for most of the game.
The difference being that Ossett who made the best of their chances.
Ossett made a strong start with captain Ben Howgate setting up Finlay Moody, but his shot was blocked by a well-timed Manav Sandhu tackle.
It quickly became clear that Howgate was going to cause problems for the Brighouse defence, not only as a hard-working midfield playmaker but also as a threat in front of goal – and he was unlucky not to open the scoring with a delicate chip over the keeper, but the effort drifted wide.
A Sufyaan Shafi effort across goal was also wide of the mark but Ossett’s opening dominance ended there as Brighouse defenders Sam Nixon, Drew Mitchell and Bradley Hall-Crowther began to get the measure of their opponents.
With the balance of play equal, Robbie Thompson got the chance to show his skills with some fine interceptions and tricky footwork and it was his pass to Hayden Webster that created Brighouse’s first shot on goal. Jake Crossley climbed to head down Webster’s right wing cross but keeper Ryan Moss was well placed to make the save.
Nixon forced another good save from keeper Moss but the score remained unchanged as referee Will Harris signalled half time.
Play was not easy for the teams as heavy overnight rain left the pitch sticky but, despite a blustery wind, the standard of football remained high for the spectators.
Bailey Sweeney finally broke the deadlock for Ossett five minutes after the re-start with a fine header into the bottom corner from a Moody cross.
Brighouse, however, knew they could match their higher-division opponents and they were soon back in the game.
Up to now Sam Wilson, Adam Nasar and Matty Robshaw had given Brighouse few opportunities but they were now having to work very hard as Harry Streeting and Ben Gledhill piled on the pressure for Brighouse and, only a Wilson block denied Hayden Webster an equaliser.
Brighouse’s continued pressure and the slippy surface led to Thompson being brought down on the edge of the penalty area under a clumsy challenge and Thompson stepped up to place the free-kick into the top corner to level the tie at 1-1.
Webster hit the Ossett post, Moody did the same thing at the other end and Shafi looked as though he would restore Ossett’s lead when his firmly hit 20-,yard shot flew beyond keeper Kai Paltier, but the effort skimmed off the top of the bar to leave the scores level at the end of normal time.
Brighouse continued to press for a winner but, again, the Ossett defence held firm and when a defensive clearance found the hard-working Howgate, it was fitting that he should score the winning goal five minutes into the first half of extra time.
