WORK on Shelley’s new clubhouse, which will provide the club with some of the best facilities in Huddersfield, is now well under way and, if the quality on the pitch matches up to the RCD Under 18 Cup-tie against Bay Athletic, it will be well worth the effort.

Shelley are well positioned for a shot at the league and cup double but they are well aware that Bay Athletic are close on their heels and a cup meeting (in Champions League style) between the two sides was always going to be a close affair – so it was little surprise it finished 4-4.

Bay arrived with only 10 men and when Shelley’s Oliver Sutcliffe carved through the defence to score straight from the kick-off, the omens looked bad for the visitors.

But this was a game that bristled with action and Bay were back on level terms within two minutes when Carl David cut in from the right to place a pass across goal which Sylbert Stewart was happy to convert from eight yards to make it 1-1.

Bay knew they would have to work very hard to match their opponents and this is exactly what they did.

But, with the game swinging dramatically from end to end, Jordan Elvidge, James Bootland and Danny Lockwood were not giving anything away, and 30 minutes had passed before another goal was added.

Nathan Eastwood’s persistence brought its reward when he chased down a lost cause to provide a cross to the unmarked Sutcliffe, who made no mistake from inside the box.

And the Sutcliffe-Eastwood partnership were involved again when the Sutcliffe’s pass released Eastwood, who went past three defenders and the keeper to sneak the ball just inside the post for a 3-1 lead.

Bay were down but not out and when a David cross found Stewart on the edge of the area, Shelley were guilty of allowing him time to turn and fire a shot into the bottom corner.

Athletic started the second half in determined mood and, although Shelley keeper Tom Large made a terrific save to deny David, the visitors’ striker was soon causing mayhem again when his pass found Jordan Greenfield who, despite the attention of three defenders, managed to work the ball to Stewart, who contrived to thread the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net for his hat trick and 3-3.

Bay’s best chance to take the lead arrived on the hour mark but David’s header flew just over the bar.

Having given everything, Bay’s defence of Josh Orchard, Jack Freeth and Luke Jackson could be forgiven for showing signs of tiredness, and it was fatigue that allowed the home side to restore their lead when a clumsy challenge sent Gypsy Black to ground and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, from where Black dispatched the penalty.

With just 10 minutes remaining, Lockwood had the chance to settle the issue but his half volley flew inches wide of the target.

Nevertheless, Shelley looked to be cruising to victory until one last Bay effort produced a corner from which David stooped to head into the corner and level the scores at 4-4.

Both sides now look almost certain to qualify for the semi-finals with only Brighouse Town, who still have three games to play, likely to cause an upset.