SPORTING Knavesmire eventually shrugged off a dogged Bishopthorpe United side to book their place in the semi-finals of the York FA Saturday Junior Cup.

Hosts Sporting appeared to be cruising to victory in the fourth round tie when they raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Scott Backhouse and Danny Smith. Bishopthorpe reduced the deficit, only for Sporting to go into the break 3-1 up after Tom Magee netted from an acute angle.

Sporting failed to convert their chances at the start of the second half and Bish took full advantage with two set-piece goals to level at 3-3. The home side forged ahead again when Alastair Brown crashed a long-range effort into the bottom corner.

With ten minutes remaining, Ryan Gothard’s 25-yard strike from a direct free-kick increased the lead and they managed to hang on despite Bish pulling another goal back.

They will be joined in the last four by Osbaldwick, who were 5-3 winners at home to Strensall on penalties after their round four tie ended 5-5 after extra time.

Johnny Cooper scored a fine hat-trick for Strensall but was unable to swing an evenly- balanced contest his side’s way.

Strensall opened the scoring on ten minutes, but Osbaldwick equalised three minutes later with a Tom Wheatland penalty. Wheatland stuck again on 38 minutes, although a slip-up allowed Strensall to level at half-time.

Goals on 50 and 55 minutes gave Strensall the lead, but Osbaldwick forced extra time with goals on 75 and 85 minutes by Mick Lawrie and Sam Thompson.

The visitors regained the lead with five minutes of extra time to go, but Pat Heath forced penalties with two minutes left on the clock and his side won the shoot-out.

Strensall’s other two goals came from Joe Davison and Jack Wilson.