Holders Workington Reds and Carlisle United are both through to the semi-finals of the Fred Conway County Cup.
At Borough Park Reds had to work hard before beating County League side Unisun Athletic 3-0 while United eventually triumphed 4-1 at Northern League Penrith, last season’s beaten finalists.
The Reds, fielding a number of Development team players, took time to breakdown a determined Unisun side and it wasn’t until three minutes before half-time that they took the lead.
A looping header from Chad Grisedale, one of those young County League players, found the back of the Unisun net.
Although Reds dominated possession and territory it wasn’t until the last ten minutes that they were able to pull clear.
Substitute Greg McCarragher was played in by Kitt Nelson and he drilled his shot home from the edge of the area after 81 minutes.
A minute later another of the players who had stepped-up, Cain Pears saw the opportunity for a shot and he was on target into the bottom corner.
As well as the win the bonus for manager Danny Grainger was that Aidy Roxburgh, out for a number of weeks with injury, got in 63 minutes on his return.
At Frenchfield a strong Carlisle team, starting with eight members of the first team squad plus new Ukranian recruit Anton Dudik, always had a bit in hand against a spirited Penrith side.
Young Dudik had opened his Carlisle account with the second United goal just before half-time after Jeyden Harris had given the visitors the lead.
Penrith needed the next goal to het back into the contest but it was Harris again, this time from 20 yards, who extended the Carlisle lead.
Penrith did hit back quickly, reducing the arrears through DJ Taylor but when Jake Allen, one of the young substitutes cleverly lifted the ball over the Penrith keeper for the fourth goal it was all over.
That defeat ended a run of eight games unbeaten at home but given the quality of the opposition manager Darren Edmondson will look forward to another home game against Guisborough on Saturday for the chance to resume winning ways.
Both the remaining quarter finals are set for February with Alston Moor entertaining Whitehaven Miners Social on Saturday the 10th while Windscale host Maryport Athletic on Wednesday the 21st.
