Liversedge focussing on survival bid after County Cup defeat

Vaughan Redford had a lively game at Thackley on Tuesday as Liversedge bowed out of the West Riding County Cup.

A young Liversedge side, which included seven of their promising Under-19s in their squad, suffered a 3-0 reversal at neighbours Thackley.

Sedge are now out of all the cup competitions and they have 24 league games remaining in what is increasingly looking like a relegation battle.

Promising youngster Vaughan Redford featured on the wide left for Sedge and had a promising game just three days after helping the West Riding progress in the FA County Youth Cup.

Thackley took a 35th minute lead in Tuesday’s cup derby when Liam Hudson was gifted a free header from a corner and nodded home from inside the penalty area.

The home side went close to doubling their advantage before half-time but a goalbound shot was judged not to have crossed the line.

The Liversedge youngsters fell 2-0 behind after 58 minutes when they conceded a penalty, which was converted by Mike Garrad.

Sedge had produced an impressive display to sweep aside Pontefract Collieries in the last round but their County Cup foray was ended seven minutes from full-time when they conceded a second penalty and this time Ben Beckles stepped up to slot home.

Thackley are now just two games away from playing at Bradford City’s Valley Parade and they host Silsden in the County Cup quarter-final.

Liversedge slipped to third-bottom of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division last Saturday, despite producing a spirited display away to Pickering Town.

The Mill Lane ground survived an early morning pitch inspection and for much of the first half Liversedge were in contention.

However, they conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time and James Bennett converted to give his side a slender lead.

Joe Danby doubled the advantage after 78 minutes and although Joe Walton pulled a late goal back it wasn’t enough to prevent Liversedge slipping to a 12th league defeat of the season.

Liversedge are just four points above second-bottom Armthorpe Welfare having played three games more.

Jon Rimmington’s men face a crucial game at home to mid-table Retford United this Saturday as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.