HEPWORTH United booked themselves a place in the final of the Huddersfield FA Under 15 Minor Cup with a 2-1 semi-final success over Linthwaite.

Linthwaite have enjoyed successive promotions from Division IV to the brink of Division I in just three years, while Hepworth have the experience of playing in the top division since they were at Under 11 level and they had no intentions of slipping up.

George Oakley was first to make his mark on the game by hitting the foot of a Linthwaite post after five minutes and, after 20 minutes of intense pressure, it took a superb save from keeper John Keeling to deny the tricky Hepworth striker.

Liam Moran, Regan McHugh, James Nixon and Jack Cooper needed all their skills to hold Hepworth back and Oakley was again unlucky when a close range snapshot produced an instinctive save from Keeling.

Manager Chris Hanley’s half-time team talk did the trick as Linthwaite were a different side when play resumed.

Zach Nash was causing havoc in the Hepworth defence as Linthwaite took their turn to pile on the pressure and the striker gave warning of what was to come when his well hit 15 yard drive flew just over the cross bar.

Linthwaite continued to defy their first half display by taking control for most of the second half but solid defending from Zak Pedler, Tom Charlesworth, Alex Joyce and Josh Kennett denied their opponents any clear cut shooting chances.

But it was Hepworth who took the lead when Josh Dyson’s pass found Sam Proud and the midfielder fired a shot into the bottom corner.

Within a minute Linthwaite were back on level terms when Nash fired home a reply.

The tie looked set to go to extra time but a second Proud strike settled the issue in Hepworth’s favour.

Hepworth face a final meeting with unbeaten league leaders YMCA who were victors over Deighton.

Almondbury Under 11 were unable to maintain their excellent cup form as they lost 4-0 to North Gawber in the Huddersfield FA Minor Cup semi-final.

Goals from Jayden Jessop, Jay Ledger and Rhys Cotton (2) were enough to book North Gawber’s passage into the final where they now face Honley who beat Dalton Dynamoes 2-1.

Lewis Toner scored for Dalton, who also missed a penalty, but Cameron Gill and Thembelihce Sikhosana sealed the victory for Honley.

Honley Under 13 side are also heading for a final after a 5-3 victory over Uppermill.

Goals from Uppermill’s Jack Fidler, Nathan Greenwood and Jason Howard matched Louis Hepplestones’ hat trick to send the game into extra time but goals from Joe Kelly and Tom Brook were enough to give Honley the win and they meet YMCA who defeated Deighton.

The finalists for the Huddersfield FA Under 15 Minor Cup were decided when YMCA eased past Deighton.

Keenan John scored for Deighton but, it was not enough as goals from Thomas Dunne, Jay Brogan-Ellis, Ronnie Roberts, Edward Hemingway and Jonathan Krishnapillai gave YMCA a comfortable passage into the final where they now meet Hepworth.

In the Under 16 RCD League Cup Challenge ran out comfortable 6-1 winners over Netherton.

Goals from Whitehead (2), Jagger, Pearce, Cranfield and Emmett gave Challenge the win to set up a meeting with Hepworth in the final at Emley on April 29.