SNOW showers ensured the Huddersfield Minor FA Cup semi-finals were played in dreadful conditions.

The first game at Leeds Road Playing Fields was between Yorkshire Lions and YMCA.

Sitting perilously close to relegation, Yorkshire Lions haven’t enjoyed the best of times in the RCD League this season but their spirits have been lifted by a superb run in the Huddersfield Minor FA Cup.

A place in the final looked unlikely as the opposition for this semi-final match came in the form of YMCA, and the title-chasing Laund Hill club had already comfortably beaten the Lions in their previous two league meetings.

But cup games often produce strange results and the Lions almost pulled off a big surprise.

YMCA were the stronger team throughout, but some superb defending by Dillon Cassidy, Jamal Russell, Nav Pahl and Anthony Beeson meant that Lions keeper Aqil Iqbal was never really tested.

YMCA finally made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when a left wing cross cleared the heads of everyone in the penalty area and fell kindly into the path of Elliot Walker, who volleyed into the roof of the net from three yards.

A Jake Robshaw strike early in the second half put YMCA firmly in the driving seat but the Lions refused to be beaten and they were soon back in contention thanks to a Rahil Sharif breakaway goal five minutes later.

The Lions continued to press for an equaliser but time eventually ran out for them.

YMCA’s final opponents are Lepton, who beat Longcroft Lions 3-0 in the other semi.

Longcroft Lions were unable to find a reply as Tom Hinks ran in two first half goals and Cieran Keating added a third from the penalty spot.

Deighton might have expected better things as they took to the field against Kirkheaton in their Under 13 cup semi-final but, despite dominating play for most of the game, they were unable to turn their advantage into goals and it was Kirkheaton who ran out winners.

Kirkheaton, who relied almost entirely on breakaways, were in the lead after just 10 minutes thanks to a Matthew Hopley strike and a Luke Walker double left Deighton staring at a three-goal deficit by half time.

Deighton’s Jordan Lewis, Sylbert Stewart and Nevron Lockwood continued to pile on the pressure in the second half but when Matthew Wall struck Kirkheaton’s fourth from a Joe Fox free kick, the game was over.

Kirkheaton now go into the cup final against Collegians, who scored a hard-fought victory over Honley in the other semi-final.

Nicolas Reaks was the Collegians scorer in a 1-0 win.