By Aidan Hopson
Jordan Saville scored a hat-trick in the only Huddersfield District League to survive the weather – but still ended up on the losing side.
After another weekend of awful weather, the only game to go ahead was the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup tie between Scholes from Division 1 and the Yorkshire Amateur League Championship side Lepton Highlanders. This game was played on the all-weather pitch at Leeds Road.
Scholes opened brightest and went into the half-time break holding a 2-0 lead courtesy of two well-taken goals from Saville. Lepton rallied in the second half and Ross Woods reduced the deficit in the 56th minute.
An own goal brought Lepton level before Saville completed his hat-trick to give Scholes back the lead. However, Alfie Smalley levelled the tie for Lepton in the 80th minute to make it 3-3.
There were no further goals, so the game had to be decided by a penalty shootout. Lepton held their nerve and went through to the next round winning on penalties 4-3.
Lepton Highlanders will play at home against Heywood Irish Centre in the quarter-final on March 19. The other quarter-final ties to be played on the same day are Linthwaite Athletic v Diggle, Holmbridge v Deighton and Kirkburton v Berry Brow.
All clubs are reminded that the registration and transfer window closes on Monday February 28 at midnight.
