HOLDERS Poppleton Tigers Under-15s are on course to retain their North Riding County FA U16s Girls Cup after a 5-1 semi-final win over Redcar Town U16s.

In the final at county HQ in Stokesley the Tigers will face either York Railway Institute U16s or South Park Rangers U15s. That semi-final will be played on March 7.

The U15s' triumph was one of three County Cup wins for the Millfield Lane club, with the U14s girls reaching their first final after beating Redcar Town U13s 5-1 and U14s boys recording a 5-1 quarter-final win at Stokesley Sports Club.

In the U16s girls clash, Redcar set up their team defensively and looked to hit Poppleton on the break but a Tammy Dunlop hat-trick proved decisive.

The pace of Lucy Haddaway was a key factor in thwarting the Redcar attack, backed by solid defending from Lauren Gilligan and Evie Metcalfe.

When a Redcar forward broke clear, Poppy keeper Megan Lee pulled off a superb save, one of many in the first half.

After Anna Whitehead was denied by the keeper, Dunlop jinked inside one defender and then another and struck a powerful right-foot shot under the keeper.

A superb through ball from Dunlop found Whitehead in the penalty area. She took one touch and drilled the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Meg Falcus drove forward and played a defence-splitting pass for Whitehead to run on to and slip the ball past the keeper.

Redcar pulled a goal back from a corner, but Poppleton restored their advantage when Dunlop netted from close range from a Falcus corner.

The final goal came following an intricate one-two between Evie Metcalfe and Falcus, who whipped in a first-time cross which was met by Dunlop at pace, slotting home for her hat-trick.

Coach Sandra Falcus said: “Yet again, the girls did not disappoint. They again have exceeded our expectations.

"We played against a strong team, in the age range above ours. We knew they would be able to play and we would put up a good challenge.

"We passed the ball with great skill and there was no selfish play as we passed the ball into the back of the net. As recognised by the coach of Redcar, the work ethic of the girls was outstanding.”