IT WAS a bad time for RCD League clubs in the County Cup competitions.

First Howden Clough Under 12s were denied a final appearance by Selby Town and then Collegians suffered a similar exit at the hands of Whitkirk Wanderers.

Clough were not be downhearted as the team representing the club was, in fact, their second team who, by reaching the semi-finals, went way beyond anyone’s expectations.

Clough put up a brave challenge and kept their opponents on their toes throughout, but Selby had clearly done their homework as Clough’s dangerman Juvahne Lewis, was virtually marked out of the game.

Selby got the scoring under way on the quarter hour when a half-cleared corner fell to Joshua Stapleton who stabbed the ball in.

Despite dominating much of the first half Selby were unable to create any further shooting chances as Clough defenders Matthew Wray, Jack Hinchliffe, Ashton Thomas and Joshua Aprcovic stuck to their task.

Indeed, Clough almost found an equaliser but Lewis’s effort was ruled offside.

Luke Rayner doubled Selby’s lead early in the second half and, although both Lewis and Liam Mulholland had good chances to score for Clough, Selby remained in control and further goals from Stapleton and George Fillingham finished off any hopes for Clough.

With a little more luck, Collegians might have been looking forward to a final appearance, but missed chances late in the game gave Whitkirk Wanderers the ticket into the final.

Collegians were slow to get started and Liam Brown gave Wanderers the lead after 15 minutes.

Although an Aidan Fisher strike put Collegians back in the game eight minutes later, the Huddersfield side were still doing more defending than attacking when the whistle for half time sounded with the score 1-1.

A defensive mix-up left Collegians keeper Tom Doyle rooted to the spot as Declan Isaacs’ shot rolled into the net to restore Whitkirk’s lead.

Suleman Rafiq, who had earlier left the field for treatment following a hard tackle, returned to cause havoc in the Wanderers defence and his efforts were rewarded when he turned 12 yards out to fire a superb shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-2. Later, it was discovered he had a fracture!

Collegians’ hopes were shattered again when Isaacs fired home.Collegians almost forced extra-time moments later but the speed of a whipped right-wing cross deceived Kyrone Adams, who was unable to make a clean connection in front of an open goal.

All but one of the League’s weather-delayed cup games reached a conclusion.

But one team that didn’t enjoy the day was Lepton Highlanders Under 17s, who missed out on a League Cup semi-final place at the hands of Clifton Rangers, who they had defeated 5-1 in a league game earlier in the season.

Previously unbeaten, the Highlanders scored through Jack Storrie but Clifton, with the score locked at 1-1 after extra-time, won the game 3-2 on penalties.

The first of the League’s semi-finals get under way next Sunday with all games being played at Leeds Road Playing Fields:

Under 11 – Golcar United v Hepworth United (11.00), Dewsbury Rangers v YMCA (1.00).

Under 13 – Netherton v Wyke Wand, Gomersal v Hepworth United (both 11.00).

Under 15 – Dalton Dynamoes v North Gawber, Gildersome v Rastrick (both 2.00).

Under 18 – Mount Pleasant v Bradford United (2.00).