KIRKBURTON are into the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA’s Rosehill Press Association Challenge Cup final.
The West Riding County Amateur League side went through with a 1-0 semi-final victory over District League Hepworth United thanks to a goal from Damien Sykes on 50 minutes.
It’s the second time Kirkburton have reached the final in three years, and they will face Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves at Parkgate (Northern Counties East) on April 19.
The semi-final was never going to be a classic as it was just about grinding out the result.
The first 20 minutes was a bit scrappy with no team really dominating possession or creating chances.
Kirkburton had to make a change after 21minutes when left back Tim Sykes went off with a calf injury, Brendan Aspinall going on at centre-back to partner Josh Williams and Ben Hughill moving to No3.
Kieran Ryan fluffed the first real chance for Kirkburton, while Sykes lobbed the keeper after being put through by Aspinall only to see his effort hit a post.
Scott Fulton and Richard Kettlewell went close before Hepworth responded with a Michael Tunnacliffe shot on 42 mintues.
Kirkburton manager Paul Quinn had a strike from distance in the last seconds of the first half but it was straight at the Hepworth keeper.
Kirkburton went 1-0 up in the 50th minute when Jordan Tindle’s cross-cum-shot was palmed onto the bar, the ball rebounding for Sykes to head home.
Hepworth should have equalised in the 58th minute from a one-on-one but Brookes made the save and, later, he responded well again to push a header over the top.
Hepworth created a few more chances – Brookes saving superbly from another header – while Ryan saw another effort deflected just over and hit the side netting late on.
