Unicorn’s hopes of a league and cup treble were quashed on Saturday with a quarter-final loss to Carperby.
The Wensleydale team progress to the semi-final of the Dales Cup after a hard-fought win.
Michael Dent gave Carperby an early lead when his strike from the edge of the area sneaked in off the post.
The home side had some good spells of passing play, with Unicorn’s main threat coming from corners.
But at the end of the half it was Carperby which doubled their advantage from a corner when Scott Lambert’s in-swinging delivery was headed in at the front post by Matty Bradley.
Unicorn came out in the second half intent on getting back into the game but Carperby’s defence held firm.
Then as Unicorn pushed forward, Carperby had a number of chances to finish the game off but Scott Lambert, Sam Lambert and Scott Alderson were all thwarted by keeper David Much.
Unicorn did manage to pull a goal back in the closing stages of the game when Stuart Murray scored from a corner, but Carperby held on for a deserved victory.
Elsewhere in the cup, Catterick Garrison enjoyed a 7-0 win over Askrigg and Bainbridge, a new team formed this season which features a number of former Wensleydale League stalwarts.
Jez Mortimer helped himself to a hat-trick in the game played at Askrigg’s Yorebridge pitch, while Tom Holland got two. Catterick’s other goals came from Neil Wright and James McCormack.
In the league, Richmond Mavericks came out on top against local rivals Richmond Town Reserves to keep up the pressure on Unicorn and Hawes at the top of the table.
Mavs took an early lead through James Kelly after just two minutes, with Sam Pickersgill scoring from the spot soon afterwards. Andrew Pritchard netting on the half hour to make it 3-0, but a goal from Town’s Brandon Bishop before the break reduced the deficit.
In the second half, Mavs scored through Michael Elliot and Pritchard , with Town benefitting from an own goal and a late effort from Edward Lewington.
Results – 9.4.22
League
Richmond Mavericks 5-3 Richmond Town reserves
Dales Cup
Askrigg 0-7 Catterick Garrison
Carperby 2-1 Unicorn
Fixtures – 16.4.22
League
Richmond Town Reserves v Reeth
Unicorn v Catterick Garrison
