Tadcaster Albion's cup hopes were dashed last night as they lost in the Northern Counties East League Wilkinson Sword Trophy semi-finals for the second time in three years.

Tadcaster trailed 1-0 to Bridlington with over an hour gone and, after Bridlington notched a second, Tadcaster pushed men forward, only to concede three more goals from breakaways.

Albion boss Wayne Day said: "It was not a 5-0 match, but when you're two down in the cup you might as well go for broke. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Mark Wood led the way for Pickering Town last night as Jimmy Reid's promotion-chasing team thrashed Brodsworth 8-1 in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Wood took the ball off normal penalty taker Joe Connor to score a last-minute

spot kick to complete a personal treble in the Recreation Ground goal-athon.

Reid explained: "He'd scored two in the first half and pinched the ball off Joe Connor so he could get a hat-trick."

Adam Wash scored two goals, and Thomas Reid, Simon Sturdy and Richard Dale were also on target.

Harrogate Town's West Riding FA Cup match at home to Guiseley last night was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Back on top

Civil Service I returned to the top of the first division of York and District Netball League, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Ladybirds 'A' by 28 goals to 25.

Civil Service were two goals behind in the first quarter before launching a fightback that saw Sue Morgan score the decisive goals.

Fielding an unchanged team the following evening, Civil Service took full points in a 29-11 victory over Osbaldwick 'A'.

Service are now four points clear at the top of the league, with Ladybirds 'A' second and Haxby I third.

Today's football

Kick off 7.45 unless stated. FA Cup (sponsored by AXA) fourth round replay: West Ham v Chelsea. Nationwide League Div 1: Coventry v Rotherham, Watford v Burnley (8pm). Nationwide League Div 2: Stoke v Cambridge Utd. CIS Insurance Cup semi-final: Hibernian v Ayr (at Hampden Park, Glasgow). Tennents Scottish Cup fourth round replay: Dundee v Partick Thistle. AXA FA Youth Cup fifth round: Barnsley v Wycombe (7pm), Fulham v Ipswich (7pm), Leeds Utd v Tottenham (7pm), Manchester Utd v Hartlepool (7pm), Aston Villa v Brighton (7pm), Everton v Manchester City (7pm). FA Premier Reserve League North: Aston Villa v Blackburn (7pm). FA Premier Reserve League South: Ipswich v Coventry (7pm). Avon Insurance Reserve League Premier Div: Port Vale v Birmingham (7pm), Preston v West Brom (7pm). Avon Insurance Reserve League Div 1: Doncaster v Scunthorpe (2pm), York City v Stockport (postponed). Avon Insurance Reserve League Div 2: Carlisle v Rochdale (2pm), Hull City v Wigan (2pm). League Cup Group 1: Kidderminster v Tranmere (7pm).

Updated: 15:41 Wednesday, February 06, 2002