THE Victory Cup semi-finals will take place on Saturday in the newitts.com Beckett League – with champions Kirkbymoorside reserves starting as favourites.

This competition is for the top four in the league’s first division, and Kirby will host 2013 champions Sinnington while Union Rovers entertain Thornton-le-Dale.

The final will be played at Kirkbymoorside on Saturday, April 26, kick off 6pm.

The other teams in the league went into the Marisa Trophy, with one first round tie to be played tonight (Wednesday) between Norton United and Heslerton.

The second round games will be played on Saturday, except for Bagby & Balk versus Wombleton Wanderers, which will be next Wednesday.

Saturday’s second round ties are listed in the fixtures section on Page xx.

Sinnington finished as first division runners-up after a 1-0 home win over third-placed Thornton-le-Dale last Saturday.

The only goal of the game was scored by Luke Clemmit after 68 minutes, when the teenager capitalised on some poor defending.

The men of the match were Paul Harland (Sinnington) and Will Dunnett (Thornton-le-Dale).

On Monday night, the Sinners were held to a 1-1 draw by basement side Duncombe Park. Cory Taylor scored the deserved late equaliser for Park, with David Elkington their man of the match.

Last Wednesday, the Sinners beat Ryedale SC reserves 5-0 thanks to goals by Jon Mitchell, Stuart Wilkinson, Luke Clemmit, Wayne Moon and an own goal. Adam Stephens starred that time, with James Reed Ryedale’s man of the match.

On Saturday, Ryedale SC reserves beat Union Rovers 1-0, Alex Ibbotson getting the goal four minutes from time.

Union missed a hatful of chances, up against Ryedale’s nan of the natch, goalkeeper Matty Gardner.

Midfielder Grant Stephens shone for the losers.

With Union getting beat, Bagby & Balk had a great chance to finish in the top four if they won by enough goals at home to Heslerton.

The visitors allowed their players to choose what position to play in – and that free-spirited plan worked for the first half as Robbie Preston put them ahead.

Bagby & Balk stepped up their game after the break, with impressive substitute Steve Tarplee scoring two and setting up Darren Bell for a third – but 3-1 was not a big enough win to nick fourth spot.

Bagby right-back James Parkinson and Heslerton striker Steve Barker were the men of the match.