KIRKHEATON Rovers, last season’s defeated finalists, created a minor surprise in the Barlow Cup.

They defeated higher-division Berry Brow 1-0 in the competition for District League teams in Divisions I and II.

Kirkheaton were like Huddersfield United in that they finished with nine men but they did start with eleven and two substitutes.

Early in the first half, an injury to Oliver Storrie meant that Rovers manager Danny Aylward had to use one of his subs. The first half was much of a stalemate with very few chances, but with the Brow slightly edging the game.

Ten minutes into the second half, a Rovers corner was cleared to the edge of the Brow box. Dale Harris followed it and from the edge of the area his overhead kick looped over the Brow keeper and into the net.

It was the last thing that Harris did as another injury forced him off and Rovers used their second sub.

A second bookable offence led to a sending-off and the Rovers were down to 10 men and, nine minutes from time, a third injury happened, so with no more subs, Rovers were down to nine men, but they held on to their 1-0 lead.

The top four in Division I all won through to the next round.

Third-placed Newsome, 3-1 winners over Heywood Irish, have already booked an Easter semi-final fixture but the top two, Uppermill and Hepworth, could meet in the quarters if Hepworth beat Holmbridge.

The three outstanding quarter-final ties are Dalton or Meltham v Netherton; Scholes v Kirkheaton and Uppermill v Holmbridge or Hepworth.

In the Richardson Cup (for teams in Reserve Division I and II), there are only two teams from the lower of those divisions.

One of those is Heywood Irish Reserves, who beat Upperthong Res 4-0 and now face a visit to Shepley Reserves for a place in the quarter-finals.

The other from the lower division is Meltham Ath A who face holders Uppermill Res. The other quarter-final ties are Newsome Res v Meltham Res and Shepley Res or Heywood Irish Res v Honley Res. Kirkheaton Res have already won through to the semi-finals.

In the Gee Cup (for teams in Reserve Divisions III and IV) the surprise is that five of the last eight are from Reserve Division IBV. The draw is Scissett Res v Flockton Res, AFC Lindley Res v Skelmanthorpe Res, Holmfirth Town Res v KKS Res and Britannia Sports A v Cumberworth B.