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17
Mar
Knaresborough Town to face Leeds United in County Cup semi-final
Knaresborough Town Women have been drawn against Leeds United in the semi-final of the County Cup.
The Manse Lane side progressed into the next round after an assured 3-1 victory over Forge Way FC yesterday (March 16).
Victory for the West Riding County Women’s Football League Division One promotion candidates continues an impressive trend of the club defeating teams in the division above them.
On their route to the semi-finals, they have beaten Farsley Celtic, Harrogate Railway and now Forge Way FC, all of whom are in the Premier Division.
Town will therefore undoubtedly go into the next round confident that they can put up a good fight against anyone that they come up against.
Leeds United is no small task, though. The Bannister Prentice Stadium side are a semi-professional football team and compete in the FA Women’s National League Division One North. They play in tier four of the women's football pyramid, three tiers higher than Knaresborough Town.
Tier 1 to 7 of the women's football pyramid. Photo: The FA
United entered the tournament as strong favourites and consolidated those expectations with a 21-0 win over Huddersfield Amateur Ladies in the first round of the competition.
The Stray Ferret spoke to Knaresborough manager Michael Bligh today to find out how he feels about the tie:
We're ecstatic to be honest. When you consider that we're only two and a half years old, and we're playing in the semi-final of the biggest cup competition we can enter, it's kind of fairytale stuff really.
We're all really pleased and proud and it's a testament to what we're trying to do as a club.
It's going to be a big challenge but also a huge privilege to come up against a team like Leeds United. They're a great outfit and we want to give a good account of ourselves.
Harrogate Town Women will also progress to the semi-finals after their opponents, Silsden AFC Juniors, forfeited the game yesterday due to not being able to field a team.
They will face Halifax FC in the other tie of the competition.
Both games will kick off at 2pm on April 13.
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