IN 2003-04, Meltham Athletic became one of the few sides to complete the local treble – District League title, Barlow Cup and Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup.

As clubs with their own facilities gradually move to the County Amateur League, the chances of this happening again become more remote.

But nobody is telling Newsome WMC. They face Netherton in a semi-final of the Barlow Cup, they will take on YMCA or Netherton in a semi-final of the Challenge Cup and they top the League at the moment.

They reached the semi-finals last week by beating Marsden 4-3 after extra time.

In the previous round, Diggle made Marsden work hard for their victory, so the team from Fall Lane must have been prepared for a tough clash.

To summarise the encounter, there was plenty of rain and mud, numerous crunching tackles, several near misses, including the woodwork being struck five times, and seven goals.

Right from the kick-off, both sides produced good football despite the conditions but it was Newsome who came closest when a run from Arron Crossley ended with a 20-yard chip hitting the bar.

In the 30th minute, it was Marsden who took the lead when a flick-on was driven home. Marsden then had a spell of pressure with one shot beating the Newsome keeper but striking an upright.

Shortly after, Newsome thought they had gone two down but the referee had blown for the end of the first half before the ball had crossed the line.

The second half continued in the same high tempo, with tackles flying in. From one of these, Newsome equalised.

A free-kick on the edge of the box was driven hard and low by Newsome’s Robshaw and with the Marsden keeper unsighted, the ball found its way into the bottom corner.

Newsome took the lead when a fierce 30-yard shot from Haigh was only parried and Maturine was quickest to react and scored from two yards.

Chances were still coming at both ends – Joel Liburd struck the bar with a header for Newsome and Marsden’s prolific striker Jonathan Newiss could easily have had a hat trick.

A header put Marsden level and they had a golden opportunity to go 3-2 in front when they were awarded a penalty, but this was saved by Mark Kirrane. At 2-2 the game went into extra time.

Levan Brown gave Newsome the lead once again with a low shot from the edge of the box, before Marsden’s Shane Kelly headed home a free-kick and it was back to 3-3 with the game in the second period of extra-time.

Marsden can then claim to be a shade unlucky. A run down the left by Jordan ended in him being tackled. It may be dubious whether a corner should have resulted. The corner was aimed to the edge of the box but took a deflection off the referee and fell to the feet of Bradshaw – another hard and low shot and it was 4-3 Newsome.

There has been more than one occasion when Division II teams have beaten Division I opposition and, in another Challenge Cup quarter final, it happened again with Lamb Inn beating Shepley.

Lamb Inn opened the scoring in the first minute when a move involving Michael Reynolds, Adam Walsh and Daniel Ryan ended with Ryan cutting inside from the left and placing his shot in the bottom right corner.

Lamb went two in front when midfielder Kieron Donaldson found Lance Hanson who chipped the keeper. Reynolds, the former Emley player, made it three and the tie looked over.

Shepley pulled one back to give them a slight chance but Reynolds scored his second and the tie was won even though Shepley added a second late on.

In League action, they must be sleeping better in Cumberworth. Two successive 3-1 wins result in them now being seven points clear of the relegation places.