Sporting Armley strolled into the 2nd round of the Spen Valley Challenge Trophy with a convincing 3-1 against Premier Division outfit Youth 2000.
Manager Jason Lovett was forced to make several changes to the starting line-up, with Mark Pearson moving to left back and Ashley McNulty making a rare start at right back alongside the usual defence of Glenn King and Phil Wheeler. Anthony Morkos returned to accompany Gareth Knight in the centre of midfield, with Karl Smith switched to the left flank and Wayne Howe pushed onto the right wing. There was no change to the attacking line-up, with Andi Bellhouse accompanying Danny Goulden.
Howe was relishing his chance to contribute to the Armley attack and put his side into the lead after 20 minutes. His chance came as a result of Goulden's fierce shot which struck the crossbar, keeper and post before bouncing out across the open goal. Howe was the first to react, racing in from deep to smash the ball home. It was Howe's second goal of the season against Youth 2000, a strike which helped wipe out the memory of an awful headed opportunity he failed to convert earlier on when it looked easier to score than miss.
The 75 year old referee made it clear he was not going to stand for any dissent and booked Andi Bellhouse and captain Glenn King in the first half in what seemed overly harsh circumstances. Neither player had swore on acted aggressively towards the referee, but he was cleartly not prepared to put up with any players talking to him under any circumstances.
Because of this strict enforcement of the rules, Armley got a rather quieter treatment from Youth 2000 than on the previous occasion the two teams met. Sporting themselves never really got out of first gear, and cruised towards half time without conceding many opportunities for Youth 2000 to score.
Gareth Knight put Armley into a two goal lead right on half-time with another headed goal. Sporting won a throw-in near the corner flag which has headed first by Bellhouse, then by Goulden and finally Knight who nodded in from close range.
Youth 2000 stepped up their attack in the second half and had a few chances. Their opportunities arriving more from individual mistakes than great play. John Moses made a couple of decent saves from range, and each Youth 2000 corner was cleared efficiently by the organised back four, but eventually the rearguard was broken.
Armley gave the ball away on the left flank and Youth quickly broke and switched to the right. Their striker raced into the box and fired low past John Moses. The goal acted as a wake up call for Sporting who took control for the rest of the game with Smith moving to centre midfield and Morkos going out wide.
Armley had several chances to score before Danny Goulden put the game beyond doubt with his 13th goal of the season. Gareth Knight sparked a quick counter-attack, hitting a long ball to Goulden who cut inside, rounded the keeper and scored with ease.
Sporting could and perhaps should have scored more goals, but the victory was all that mattered to set up an exciting round 2 encounter with premier division side FC Bosnia.
