WIGGINTON Grasshoppers winger Jamie Willstrop bagged a brace to help send the York Minster Engineering League representative side into the last four of the FA Inter-League Cup.

Sub Liam Flanigan and Andrew Simpson, of Huntington Rovers and Sporting Knavesmire respectively, were also on target during the 4-0 triumph over the Staffordshire County League in the quarter-final of the nationwide competition.

As reported by The Press, the YMEL team, managed by Osbaldwick’s Chris Smith and Tadcaster Magnets’ Simon Wood, have never progressed so far in a national tournament and will now meet the Kent County League in another home tie on a date and at a venue yet to be decided.

Chris Broad was Staffordshire’s danger man, having scored a hat-trick in the previous round against the Lincolnshire League and his early lay-off in this tie played on Harrogate Town’s 3G pitch led to a long-range Jamie Kempson effort that was easily saved by Wigginton keeper Mike Clancy.

But the York midfield of Scott Nicholas, Chris Bilton and Cameron Mulhearn soon began to stamp their authority on the game, while defenders Dale Holding and Matty Pallister mastered the aerial duels.

Nicholas went on to force a low save after Mulhearn’s through ball, while Broad’s looping header was easily deal with by Clancy.

A Bilton free kick was also kept out at the near post, while Marcus Godsell, the YMEL’s current top scorer, was performing well in an unfamiliar, lone front role.

As Nicholas continued to pull the strings, Simpson and Godsell both had chances, with one going wide and another well saved by the keeper.

Lingard also made a brilliant interception to clear from the toe of Broad, before Godsall teed up Bilton for a long-range effort that was saved.

The breakthrough came on 42 minutes when Willstrop chased down a long clearance by Wigginton team-mate Clancy and rounded the away keeper before slotting low into the empty net from the left side of the penalty area.

At the other end, Clancy was well-positioned to deal with a Broad header, while Wilstrop won a free kick that saw Nicholas’ 25-yard curling effort pushed around a post.

After Josh Hall was restricted to a long-range attempt that was easily kept out by Clancy, Nicholas also went close again, while Mulhearn forced a good save after Cameron Sanderson had cut the ball back towards the penalty spot.

The second goal eventually arrived on 75 minutes when Sam Lingard won the ball just inside his own half and slotted a great ball through for Willstrop, who doubled the advantage with a controlled finish.

Bilton and Flanigan were then denied by great saves, before the latter was sent clear by fellow replacement Jake Duckworth and added a third goal.

Another Flanigan shot flashed wide, before Nicholas and Duckworth combined to release Simpson, whose pace took him clear of a static Staffs defence to make it 4-0 on 85 minutes.

Flanigan continued to threaten and came close to a fifth goal, while James Edmond had an opportunity saved on the line after he was set up by Willstrop.

YMEL team: Clancy (Wigginton Grasshoppers), Sanderson (Dringhouses), Lingard (Sporting Knavesmire), Nicholas (Old Malton St Mary’s), Pallister (Copmanthorpe), Holding (Rawcliffe), Simpson (Sporting Knavesmire), Cameron Mulhearn (Dringhouses), Godsell (Old Malton), Bilton (Osbaldwick), Willstrop (Wigginton). Subs: Sam Pepper (Osbaldwick), Matthew Mulhearn (Dringhouses), Flanigan (Huntington Rovers), Edmond (Huntington Rovers), Duckworth (Wigginton).