HARROGATE Town manager John Reed's hopes of reaching a cup final for the fourth successive season were dashed by a penalty shoot-out and 'under-nine' defending on Saturday.

Reed's side drew 4-4 against Workington in the semi-finals of the Unibond League President's Cup and then lost 4-3 on penalties after both Robbie Whellans and fellow striker Glenn Naylor failed from the spot.

Harrogate, who reached the West Riding Cup final in the last two seasons and the League Cup in the campaign before, led three times against Workington but were punished for mistakes described as schoolboy errors by Reed.

Colin Hunter scored twice to give Town a 2-1 lead and Whellans then missed a great chance to increase the advantage before Workington equalised after a Michael McNaughton mistake.

Former York City striker Naylor put Town back in front during extra-time with a tap-in after excellent work by Hunter.

But Hunter was then penalised for a clean tackle by a linesman, who was flagging 40 yards away from the action, and Workington levelled the scores with the resulting free-kick.

Goalkeeper Ashley Connor needlessly conceded a penalty to give Workington the lead for the first time in the match but home-grown youngster Curtis Price forced penalties at the death after coming on as a late substitute for Hunter.

Whellans hit the first spot-kick too close to the goalkeeper but Connor then saved Workington's first effort.

Naylor struck a post with the next penalty and Workington went on to score their next four, making successful conversions by Mark Atkins, Mark Ford and Mark Barnard irrelevant.

Reed said afterwards: "The kind of mistakes that an under-nine side would make cost us dreadfully. Two lads went for the same ball for their second goal and Ashley Connor made a schoolboy error for their penalty."

In the Northern Counties East League, third-placed Selby Town missed out on a great chance to close the gap on leaders Brigg.

Selby went down 3-2 at Armthorpe Welfare just as leaders Brigg were crashing 4-0 away to mid-table, but in-form Hallam.

Russell Barley and Matthew Wain were the marksmen for the Robins, the former putting the visitors in front.

But after David Jones levelled just on the hour mark, the Selby defence conceded another two goals before Wain's last-minute consolation.

That ensured that the gap between Brigg and Selby remained at five points, but the Robins do have the advantage of having two games in hand over the premier table-toppers.

In another twist among the high-fliers, second-placed Ossett Albion surrendered a two-goal lead to draw at home to Glasshoughton.

Pickering Town, meanwhile, ensured they did not slip up away to bottom club Brodsworth.

The Pikes triumphed 2-0 thanks to efforts from Gavin Dickenson and Mark Swales. Dickenson struck from 20 yards on the stroke of half-time and Swales added a second - and ultimately decisive strike - when he cut in from the right wing and fired home a low, left-footed shot.

Mark Wood twice went close for the Pikes, as did Adam Russell and Ricky Greening, whose shot struck the bar.

Manager Steve Brown said: "It was a typical performance from us against a side in the lower reaches.

"We had lots of possession and just did enough to take the points."

Elsewhere in the premier division, Harrogate Railway did not travel too well. Their recent revival in form suffered a dip as they disappointingly went down 3-0 at second-bottom Arnold. There was anguish too for Goole, who lost 1-0 at home to Glapwell.

In the NCEL first division, Tadcaster Albion went down 4-1 at Shirebrook Town.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, March 08, 2004