THAT well known footballing adage - "It's always difficult playing against 10 men" - is, in the majority of cases, probably true.

And so it was, that the wily Yorkshiremen from Gargrave, hoping to gain a psychological advantage over their opponents, took to the field one player short.

Due to injury, work and social commitments, the visitors arrived with a somewhat depleted squad.

But on a pitch that looked like it had been freshly ploughed ready for potato planting, the 10 men of Gargrave rolled up their sleeves and gave the home side the run around in the first 20 minutes.

Wayne Fenton picking out players with some delightful long balls again, split the Grindleton defence and a slip by Fox let in Steve Newton. Darren Jackson, resembling a sweeper rather than a goalkeeper, came to his side's rescue smothering the ball at the attacker's feet.

Grindleton did eventually settle down and exploited their extra man advantage in the 21st minute with a good move down the left flank. Steven Pinder's powerful run from the halfway line ended when he drove a low cross back across the face of the goal and Shaun Lloyd drilled the ball home from five yards.

With Grindleton now pushing forward with more confidence, only a foul by Wayne Fenton prevented Shaun Lloyd from scoring and Mr Daggett immediately pointed to the penalty spot. The smile of the face of the affable Edward Fox positively glowed as he swept the ball past the Gargrave keeper to make the score 2-0.

After the break Gargrave stormed back into the game and in the 53rd minute Couderc fed Steve Newton with a neat pass inside the box. Newton allowed Jackson to narrow the angle then lobbed the advancing keeper, before raising his hands in delight as the ball bounced into the empty net for a well-taken goal.

In an attempt to spice up their attack Grindleton brought on Richard Thornber who almost scored with his first touch. A Steve Lloyd pass found Thornber unmarked with only Yeadon to beat, but his snatched shot flew disappointingly wide. Within seconds Thornber had another golden opportunity presented to him but Yeadon was too quick off the mark and made a good save at the substitute's feet. These spurned chances almost proved costly as Gargrave's 10 men took control of the game and Leighbourne was unlucky to see his cross-come-shot clip the top of the crossbar. Shaun Newton then had the home side rocking, when he displayed a good first touch before beating his defender and blasting a powerful effort into the side netting.

But Grindleton held out an in the last 10 minutes pushed forward again. Thornber was unlucky to see a good effort come back off the crossbar and Shaun Lloyd fired just over from 15 yards out. In the 90th minute the home side succeeded in making their victory appear more convincing than it really was, when a cross from Shaun Lloyd was headed down by Peter Dalien, forcing a great save from Yeadon at the foot of the post. James Towler following up, prodded the ball home from three yards and with that Mr Daggett ended the game.

Despite fielding a depleted side, the Yorkshiremen can count themselves unlucky not to get a result and Grindleton will be praying that their opponents in the next round are not a seven-man side from Settle.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.