Honley FC are in the hat for the third round of the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup after a convincing 4-1 away win against KKS Spartans.
The visitors had to weather the storm early on though after the Spartans created a very good chance from a quickly taken free kick after just five minutes, but the opportunity was narrowly off target.
The Spartans settled into the game after the early chance and looked comfortable at the back forcing Honley’s front men to shoot from distance.
It was James Clapham who came closest for the away side with a 30 yard strike which was well gathered by the home keeper, who also pushed a Ben Lindley effort round a post just minutes later.
With the game goalless at half-time and both sides levelling each other out it was Honley manager Richard Bray who gambled with a change of formation.
The inspired alteration led to an immediate goal from the restart for Bray’s men, when a precise free kick from Daniel Knutton was met by John Elliott, who neatly prodded his shot home to nudge his side 1-0 up.
Five minutes later things got even better for the visitors when Dylan Brett was up-ended in the penalty area after turning a defender.
Captain Knutton stepped up and double his sides lead from the spot.
The home side were not giving up without a fight though and their determination paid off on the hour mark when they halved the deficit.
However, the Spartans’ bold attacking play was leaving them susceptible to counter attacks and it proved costly seven minutes later when they were caught out from a swift attack which led to a second penalty for the visitors after Lindley was tugged back in the penalty area.
Once again Knutton stepped up to get the better of the opposing keeper and give his side another two goal cushion.
At 3-1 Honley looked comfortable and created more chances, the best one falling to Brett whose lobbed shot hit the woodwork and his rebounded effort was cleared off the line.
Jordan Robinson was not called upon often for the visitors, but when he was he stepped up and made the save, the best of which came in the 76th minute when his outstretched hand tipped Aaron Murray’s shot around a post.
In the 80th minute Brett killed the game off, scoring Honley’s fourth goal with a 10 yard side footed shot.
With the game becoming increasingly stretched in the final 10 minutes Honley had numerous chances to extend their lead, but it wasn’t to be as the game finished 4-1 in their favour, setting up a third round tie against Shelley FC.
