Brighouse struggled in the early stages of this long-delayed Under 12 League Trophy second-round meeting with Netherton but, having withstood an early onslaught, Brighouse could consider themselves a little unlucky to go out of the competition 5-2.

Netherton almost grabbed the lead in the first minute but a terrific one-handed save from keeper Reece Smith turned Joel Rushworth’s goal-bound shot around a post.

Brighouse remained pinned in their own half and it seemed a matter of time before Netherton scored, but the visitors’ enthusiasm to get forward left a lot of pitch vacant and Declan Raistrick took full advantage of the space when he broke on the right and sent a cross to the far post where an unmarked William Ottoway was happy to turn the ball past keeper Billy Farley to give Brighouse an unexpected early lead. (1-0)

The setback didn’t phase Netherton, who resumed their dominance, but they were almost caught out by another Brighouse breakaway five minutes later but, this time, Billy Farley’s shot whistled just wide of the right post.

Jack McGowan and Ben Fowler formed Netherton’s biggest threat as they went in search of an equaliser but determined tackling from William Thompson, Declan Raistrick and Daniel Fahey kept the Brighouse goal intact.

With the game moving past the 20-minute mark, Brighouse were finally beginning to get an equal share of possession but, despite a couple of near misses from Alex Gentry and Tommy Kershaw it was their turn to get caught out when Rushworth’s driven cross swerved over the keeper’s head into the top corner to level the score at 1-1.

And Netherton were in the lead moments later when the referee spotted a handball and pointed to the spot. Fowler converted the penalty to give Netherton a half-time lead their early dominance deserved (1-2).

u12 Trophy 2nd Round... BRIGHOUSE 2 - 5 NETHERTON - Brighouse's Tommy Kershaw (yellow) fires in a shot but the keeper saves
u12 Trophy 2nd Round... BRIGHOUSE 2 - 5 NETHERTON - Brighouse's Tommy Kershaw (yellow) fires in a shot but the keeper saves

Brighouse looked a different side as the second half got under way and a passing move between Fowler, Josh Kavaliauskas and Kershaw deserved some reward but Kershaw’s shot flew inches wide of the right post.

So far Elliot Rees, Ben Hepworth and Oliver Riley had enjoyed a fairly quiet game in the Netherton defence, but they were undone five minutes after the re-start when they failed to clear a William Ottaway cross, allowing Kershaw to level the score from close range at 2-2.

Up to now, Brighouse had done well to stay in the game but their luck was about to run out.

Rushworth’s deceptively dipping shot from an acute angle gave keeper Reece Smith no chance as it dipped into the top corner to restore Netherton’s advantage. The home side tried hard to get back into the game but when Alex Gentry hit a shot to the top corner of the visitors’ net, Hepworth was perfectly positioned to head clear.

And things got even worse for the home side when the ball looped over keeper Smith and into the Brighouse net after taking an unfortunate bounce as William Thompson attempted to clear a Fowler cross (2-4).

William Ottaway saw his shot tipped over the bar as Brighouse tried hard to get back into the game but their need for goals left them exposed to breakaways and, when a hasty mis-kick fell into the path of Jack McGowan, the speedy Netherton forward rounded keeper Smith to seal the result in Netherton’s favour (2-5).

Netherton now go on to face Battyeford in the last eight of the competition.

u12 Trophy 2nd Round... BRIGHOUSE 2 - 5 NETHERTON
Brighouse - Wayne Smith (Manager), William Thompson, Josh Pickering, Tommy Kershaw, Cameron Fletcher, Reece Smith, Simon Fahey (Coach), Rob Ottaway (Coach), William Ottaway, Declan Raistrick, Daniel Fahey, Joshua Kavaliauskas, Alex Gentry
u12 Trophy 2nd Round... BRIGHOUSE 2 - 5 NETHERTON Brighouse - Wayne Smith (Manager), William Thompson, Josh Pickering, Tommy Kershaw, Cameron Fletcher, Reece Smith, Simon Fahey (Coach), Rob Ottaway (Coach), William Ottaway, Declan Raistrick, Daniel Fahey, Joshua Kavaliauskas, Alex Gentry