THE Deighton management team reckon this could be their year as their side eased into the Under 14 cup final with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kirkheaton.

After going out of last year’s competition at the first hurdle and finishing runners-up in the league, Deighton are still in with a good chance of picking up both trophies this time around.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for them.

Although a confidence boosting Tegene Campbell goal got them off mark early in the game, second division Kirkheaton are also enjoying as good season and Deighton’s slender lead was still the only difference between the sides at the end of the first half.

The always reliable Bradley Powell, Cory Marsland and Timmy Taylor continued to press Kirkheaton’s claim but, Deighton were determined not to let their advantage slip and when Darius McLeod doubled Deighton’s lead, it was going to take a remarkable turn around for Kirkheaton to get back into the game.

Syneil Quashie finished off any lingering hopes for Kirkheaton as Deighton now look forward to a final meeting with first division rivals Ossett Town.

Clifton Rangers, who started the season as nobody’s favourites, are the ‘dark horses’ of the under 17 age group this season, but the manner of their 4-1 cup semi-final victory over Guiseley will have made a few people sit and take notice.

Matthew Richardson and an own goal added to Daniel Cooke’s double strike to secure a comfortable victory for the Brighouse side, who are still in the mix for the league title, and leave them with a realistic chance of lifting a league and cup double.

Clifton now face a cup final showdown at AFC Emley on April 18 with the winners of next week’s semi-final between Silkstone and Rothwell.

After finishing runners-up in the cup competitions at Under 12 and Under 13 level, Brighouse were hoping to go one better this time only to be beaten 4-1 in their Under 14 semi-final with Ossett Town.

However, despite taking an early lead through Matthew Wensley, their hopes were soon crushed when goals from Daniel Wright and Connor Daniel turned the game to leave Ossett with a 1-2 half time advantage.

Although the game was a repeat of last year’s Under 13 semi-final when Brighouse won 3-1, Ossett were in no mood for a repeat scoreline and secured their victory thanks to further goals from Joe Turfrey and Connor Daniel to set up a cup final meeting with Deighton.

The winter’s bad weather left a lot of teams with a huge backlog of games and one team that suffered was YMCA’s Under 12 side.

Although they’ve lost only one game so far this season, the Laund Hill outfit still have a lot of work to do if they are to keep their hopes of a league and cup double alive.

For Dewsbury, the cup has proved a welcome relief to a side that sits perilously close to the first division drop zone, but any hopes of pulling off another cup surprise ended at the semi-final stage as YMCA won through 3-0.

A Matthew Lindley goal added to a Bradley Hall brace to give YMCA a place in the final where they face Elland side HAFC.

Next week sees just one Under 18 semi-final at Leeds Road Playing Fields when BPA Juniors take on Farsley Celtic for the honour of a place in the final against Bradford United.

Due to involvement in County competitions and weather delays, the Under 16 semi-finals, which should have been played next Sunday, will now be played at a later date.