THE first of three weeks of York FA Cup semi-finals got underway when Dunnington beat Fulford 3-0 in the Acaster Steel Cup.

Top of the table Fulford fell behind to second-placed Dunnington after 15 minutes when Nathan Spreckley chipped the ball forward for Matthew Wilks to dribble his way past two defenders before scoring.

Five minutes later a Spreckley through ball found Daniel Leaf, who cut in to lob the ball home.

Dunnington continued to dominate and it was only a string of excellent saves by Sam Atkinson which prevented further goals, until ten minutes from time when Sam Tree broke down the right and fed the ball to Scott Nicholls, who drew the 'keeper before squaring the ball to Wilks to sidefoot into an empty net.

In the other Acaster Steel semi-final, division two side Brooklyn beat first division Copmanthorpe Cougars 1-0.

The only goal of the game came when a corner from the right by Jermaine Rudd was flicked on by Richard Stevenson for Dominic Amos to shoot into the top corner from ten yards.

Poppleton came from 2-0 down to beat Thorpe United 3-2 in their York FA Junior Minor Cup semi-final.

Thomas Charlesworth netted twice for Thorpe, whose Sam Ploughs looked dangerous on the right wing.

Poppleton reduced the arrears in the second half when Chris Green netted from 12 yards and then Tom Breslin equalised with a scrappy goal which went in off the woodwork.

In a frantic finish, the Thorpe goalkeeper was penalised for an offence outside his area and from the resulting free-kick Scott Milling netted the winner.

The other semi-final between Brooklyn and Real Cliffe at Stamford Bridge was postponed and rescheduled for Sunday March 17 (2pm) at York RI's ground.

Updated: 11:54 Thursday, March 14, 2002