A TOM Corner hat-trick fired All Saints Roman Catholic School under-13s one step closer to a prestigious Villa Park cup final.

The Bishopthorpe pupils beat Sheffield's Handsworth Grange 4-1 to book a place in the Coca-Cola English Schools' Cup northern section semi-finals.

Joe Dale was also on target for the York youngsters, who will run out at the home of Premiership club Aston Villa on May 27 if they can win their next three matches in the competition.

Cleveland county champions Conyers School, from Yarm, are All Saints' next opponents on or before April 23 and a victory in that match will book a place in the northern final.

The winners of that match will then contest the national semi-finals against the champions of the midlands, south-east or south-west sections, with the triumphant teams then booking their place in the final.

Corner fired in a low shot to give All Saints a 15th-minute lead against Handsworth, who levelled the scores eight minutes later with an effort that 'keeper Rob Hodson had no chance of stopping.

The York team were back in front early in the second half, with Dale powerfully heading in a pinpoint cross.

Handsworth then applied some pressure, but Lee Fisher, Callum Andrew and Ryan O'Reilly stood firm in defence for All Saints and Nick Thompson and Alex Brent began to dominate midfield.

Corner scored an outstanding solo effort on 49 minutes, beating three players before finishing with a left-footed strike.

He then completed his hat-trick with his team's fourth goal - a long-range effort.

York under-11 Schoolboys football play Scarborough away on Saturday morning. Players should meet at the Tanglewood pub on the A64 at 8.30am.

York U11s: George Catling, George Wilson, Tom Kite, Conor Qualter (capt), Alex Dale, Tim Patton, Sam Byram, Aaron Hudson, Sam Fowler, Jacob Gore, Jamie Willstrop, Charlie Clamp, Jacob McCormick, Alex Needham.

The team are also in action on Tuesday morning at home to Hull ahead of their tour of Whitley Bay. Meet 9.30am at York Sixth Form College for a 10.15am kick off.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, March 23, 2005