A HOT Cross stunner gunned down Wigginton for Acomb WMC to power into the York FA Sunday Senior Cup final.

Acomb deposited two goals in the opening 15 minutes, Steve Cross the rapid-striking hit-man with a brace of accurate drives. Cross could have plundered a first-half hat-trick but for squandering a great chance and just before the interval that looked costly as Wigginton halved the deficit with a 20-yard screamer from Gavin Dickinson.

After the break both teams chiselled out opportunities, but there were no further goals and Wigginton's tilt was stalled when they had a man sent off in the 67th minute.

Acomb WMC will have to wait until, Easter Sunday before discovering their final opponents. That's when the other semi-final between Hounds and Severus WMC will be played at Bishopthorpe.

A bizarre second-half sending-off of unused Yorkshire Herald substitute Grant McLean for alleged comments made on the touch-line did not detract from Herald's push into the Sunday Junior Cup final after an exciting last-four duel against Thorpe.

Herald had to come back from a goal deficit - Nigel Emery glancing in a Gavin Clamp corner. But for a goal-line clearance which thwarted Paul Ramsay, Thorpe would have been 2-0 in front. Then, as half-time approached Herald levelled after Stewart Greenwood struck at the far post.

The tie was settled 25 minutes from time by a 25-yard thunderbolt from Graham Ward. Though Thorpe applied severe pressure the Herald defence stayed intact, with the centre-back axis of Alex Dewhirst and Jamie Backhouse excelling.

Acomb SC will take on Herald in the final after they beat Black Bull 4-2.

Twice Black Bull cancelled out goals from Richard Dalby and Scott Nichols with a brace of replies from Dan Lindsey. But Acomb would not be denied and goals from Vinny Wray and John Beach finally ended the bullish resistance.

Drax United's defence of their Sunday Afternoon Cup was maintained after a 2-1 semi-final exit of St John's College.

John Hurst crashed home a venomous drive from 25 yards for the Drax opener before an equaliser from the spot, Darren Renwick rifling in a penalty. Come the hour, come the winner - Richard Broadbent battering in a volley for Drax.

The other semi-final produced a similar scoreline with Saville AV prevailing over Clifton, all three goals notched in the final 15 minutes.

Clifton struck first, Bill Allen beating three defenders before scoring. But the league's top scorer Simon Collins smacked in a leveller from long distance before a controversial Saville winner.

As several players were locked in a midfield skirmish the referee waved play on. Mark Taylor rattled in a shot, which, though parried by the Clifton 'keeper, still had enough clout to roll over the goal-line.

Updated: 11:41 Tuesday, March 26, 2002