West Riding Challenge Cup: No big double for Amateurs
The final score line flattered the winners, who were distinctly second best in the first half with Matty Jones and Hayden Kerris giving their much-vaunted opponents the run around in midfield.
The only thing missing was a goal, Slater Barnes narrowly firing over the bar just before half time as the two teams turned round at 0-0.
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Hide AdThe second half started evenly with chances at a premium but after the hour mark Carlton made the breakthrough with a header from a fine left wing cross.
The game now started to get stretched with the Amateurs straining every muscle to get an equaliser against a strong and well organised defence.
With 10 minutes left the Elland side got hit with a sucker punch, losing the ball and conceding a second on a lightning breakaway.
Amateurs were by now playing on adrenalin, having beaten Shelf United by 4-0 in the Halifax & District Cup Final at the Shay only 48 hours earlier, but they kept trying. It was cruel on them when they failed to score in a goalmouth scramble with two minutes to play and West Yorkshire League champions Carlton raced down the pitch to bag a third.