Egremont Cosmos gave Sunday County Cup holders Inter Pirelli a massive scare in their quarter final tie at Cleator Moor.
Cosmos had gone 3-2 ahead early in the second half and the Carlisle side had a man sent off, with the holders then looking to be in serious trouble.
However, in an enthralling battle, the 10 men of Inter upped their game, and in the final quarter looked the better side. Two goals from Keiron Blair and Jordy Atkinson gave the visitors a fine victory under the circumstances.
In the first half FC Cosmos had taken the lead very much against the run of play with an outstanding strike from Lewis Park.
Inter Pirelli hit back with a Ben Davidson goal, and then Jay Weatherill made it 2-1 for FC Cosmos before a second Inter Pirelli goal from James Davidson left the sides level 2-2 at half-time.
Weatherill gave FC Cosmos the lead again and Inter Pirelli then went down to 10 men after a straight red for Ben Davidson.
Northside are left as the west’s representatives in the semi-final as both Dearham Commercial and Lowca Pirates were beaten in their quarter finals.
A 5-1 win at Brampton put Northside through and kept them on course to win the one trophy that eluded them in their quadruple season last year.
Callum Killick (3), Jamie Bramley and Tony Berwick scored for the Workington side.
Dearham went down 5-1 at Denton Holme with Jack Dunstan their goal scorer. Man of the match Arron Bradbury (2), Ryan Johnston and Bobby Dixon scored for Denton Holme who also had the help of an own goal.
It was tight in the other quarter final where Scotby were 2-0 winners at Lowca Pirates, with goals from Ben Harkness and Mark Hutchinson.
The semi-final draw will be made shortly with Northside, Inter Pirelli, Scotby and Denton Holme involved.
In the Workington and District Sunday League Blue Bell went three points clear after their 9-2 win over Salterbeck but champions Northside have three games in hand.
Carl Denver led the way for Blue Bell with a hat-trick and he was joined on the sheet by Tom Powell (2), Logan Kilgour, Steven Maxwell, Shane Tyson and Luke Knowles.
Salterbeck’s replies came from top scorer Max Litt who hit the target twice.
Deer Orchard picked-up three good points from a 2-1 win at Maryport Athletic but even the staunchest official or supporter of the Cockermouth side admitted the home team deserved something from the game.
Milo Cooke had put Orchard 2-0 up with a brace before Stefan Miller pulled one back just before half-time.
It stayed that way right through the second half in which Maryport dominated play and a totally committed effort from the Orchard defence saw them over the line.
There was an Aspatria derby clash in the League Cup in which Sun Inn drew 2-2 with Sun Inn Athletic. The tie went to penalties and the senior side, Sun Inn came out on top 4-3.
Mally Graham got Sun’s two goals in the 90 minutes which were cancelled out by Athletic’s Luke Day and Mark Campbell.
From the penalty spot Graham, Ewan Trestianu, Matty Prior and Louis Elliott were successful for Sun while Daniel Dobson, Jason Donald and Owen Brown hit the target for Athletic.
Fixtures for Sunday are: League – Salterbeck v Deer Orchard; Senhouse Street v Northside; Sun Inn Athletic v Sun Inn.
League Cup – Flimby Social v Maryport Athletic.
