Wetherby scrape past Saints in semi-final showdown

Reigning Barkston Ash FA Challenge Cup champions Wetherby Athletic made it through to the competition's final for a second successive season when they scraped past Swillington Saints.
Wetherby Athletic's Andy Graham climbs highest to win a header during his side's Barkston Ash semi-final success over Swillington Saints. Picture: Peter ArnettWetherby Athletic's Andy Graham climbs highest to win a header during his side's Barkston Ash semi-final success over Swillington Saints. Picture: Peter Arnett
Wetherby Athletic's Andy Graham climbs highest to win a header during his side's Barkston Ash semi-final success over Swillington Saints. Picture: Peter Arnett

The 2016/17 season has been one of real struggle for the Tangerines, and although they now have the opportunity to win some silverware at the end of it despite a difficult league campaign, they did things the hard way in Saturday’s semi-final showdown.

The Saints play their football in the division below Athletic in the West Yorkshire Football League, and just like Wetherby, are battling against relegation.

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Yet, despite this, the Leeds-based outfit were the better side on the day, and will consider themselves unlucky to have come out on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

Tangerines stopper Mike Recchia was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening stages and had to make a fine one-handed save to keep his side on terms as early as the seventh minute.

Swillington had further chances to go ahead, but it was eventually the hosts who took a 17th-minute lead when Arran Horton’s cross was only cleared as far as Joe Dorkings who sent a looping volley over the head of the Saints gloveman.

The visitors were back on terms soon afterwards, but Athletic went into half-time 2-1 up courtesy of Jack McGahan picking up Dorkings’ pass and finding the bottom corner with a crisp shot from just inside the area.

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A second Swillington equaliser shortly after the resumption, and the sides remained locked at 2-2 until the 83rd minute when Josh Buckley powered through a swath of defenders to meet Dorkings’s corner with a diving header and win the match.

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