Danny Boshell’s sublime goal in the 51st-minute proved to be the difference between the two teams after the Lions had been denied a bigger winning margin by some dogged defending from the Shaymen in an entertaining West Riding County Cup Semi-Final at Nethermoor.

The visitors were content to soak up the pressure in the first half and get men behind the ball as the home side mounted a series of attacks, beginning with  James Walshaw’s early ball across the six-yard box found no takers. Danny Forrest then forced Phil Senior into a save at the foot of the post before Jason St Juste blocked Joe O’Neill’s goal bound effort.

Although Halifax were hitting the home side on the counter they lacked a cutting edge up front, and even when they did get a shot away Jacob Giles proved equal to the challenge, saving Anton Foster’s header at full stretch. The Lions suffered a potentially serious loss when Gavin Rothery left the field  midway through the first half to be replaced by Andy Holdsworth.  With the ankle injury he sustained being serious enough to warrant going to hospital for an x-ray as a precaution after the game.

The visitors’ goal remarkably remained intact during an almighty scramble on the goal-line just before the break but six minutes into the second period, influential midfielder Boshell took down a through ball and delivered a blistering shot into the top corner – all in one movement – giving Senior no chance. The goal seemed to giove Halifax the impetus to go in search of an equaliser but it was the Lions who went closest with Holdsworth’s shot  cannoning off the inside of Senior’s upright. The  keeper then getting down smartly to push O’Neill’s effort round the post.

Danny Ellis had a header blocked on the line and Walshaw was unable to keep the ball down as his header sailed just over as the Lions looked to put the result beyond doubt. Senior again came to his side’s rescue, this time clawing Walshaw’s shot out of the top corner, but even he was unable to deny the Lions a well-earned victory that sets up a home Semi-Final in early March against old foes Farsley Celtic after ex-Guiseley midfielder Simeon Bambrook’s goal proved the difference between Celtic and Garforth Town tonight at Cedar Ridge.

The other Semi-Final is between Harrogate Town and Bradford Park Avenue after Town also beat Ossett Albion by a solitary goal at Dimple Wells this evening while Avenue disposed of Armthorpe Welfare yesterday by three goals to one after the Doncaster side had taken an eighth-minute lead.

The Final is scheduled for Wednesday 11 April and will once again be played at Valley Parade, the home of Bradford City.

Team:

1- Giles

2 – Ainge

3 – Merris

4 – Burns

5 – Ellis

6 – Bower

7 – Forrest (Booker 67)

8 – Boshell 51 (Toner 67)

9 – O’Neill

10 –  Walshaw

11 – Rothery (Holdsworth 33)

Subs not used: 12 – Lee Elligton, 17 – Jamie Clarke

Att: 281