JAMES Turley will be absolved of his penalty-taking responsibility for Harrogate Town after failing with his second successive spot-kick.

His latest 12-yard blunder contributed to Town's dismal 1-0 exit from this year's Conference Cup at Wetherby Road against struggling Bradford Park Avenue.

And it could have cost Town a lucrative home tie against Conference high-flyers Halifax Town with the Shaymen lying in wait for the winners of the Stalybridge Celtic v Bradford PA second round match.

An angry Town boss John Reed also rued the chances that his team squandered for the second successive match.

He said: "They had one attempt and scored. We had seven excellent chances, should have taken at least half of them but did not score one.

"We didn't play well but should still have won and putting the ball in the net is becoming a worry. They were dreadful but worked hard and defended in great numbers."

Just as disappointing as Turley's saved penalty was the fact that Colin Hunter's follow-up effort was blazed wide from three yards.

Mark Smith, Ian Blackstone and Paul Shepherd also missed excellent opportunities with their head and Clayton Donaldson shot straight at the keeper with a one-on-one chance.

Defeat completed a hat-trick of cup shocks for Harrogate this season.

Liversedge knocked them out of the FA Cup and Stalybridge dumped them out of the FA Trophy.

Pickering Town progressed to the third round of the FA Vase with a 4-2 victory at Dunston Federation Brewery.

Alex Mathie's men led after a Matthew Morton goal but Brian Dutton conceded a dubious penalty and the home team were level at the interval.

Dunston added a second after the break but goals from Alex Willgrass, Mark Swailes and Gavin Dickinson settled the tie in the Pikes' favour.

Two goals from ex-Selby Town striker Steve Ward helped Tadcaster Albion set up a derby clash against his old club in the third round following an emphatic 3-0 victory in last night's Northern Counties East League Cup replay at Gedling Town.

Ward opened the scoring after 30 minutes after breaking the offside trap and Alan Jackson doubled the visitors' advantage by heading in off an upright after Steve Jones crossed.

Albion made it 3-0 late on when Ward tapped in his second after a goalkeeping error.

Updated: 11:32 Wednesday, November 24, 2004