Harrogate Town eased their way into the West Riding County Cup final with a comfortable 4-1 victory over a lively Ossett Albion.
Ossett won an early free kick,from which Chris Hall conceded a corner,but Town soon opened their account.
On three minutes,Albion keeper,Adam Rhodes raced out of his area to head a long clearance clear,but Anton Brown was on hand to shoot into the empty net from thirty yards.
Albion struck back and Peter Crook twice had to race off his line to clear from Ryan Harrison and Adam Muller.
Town stretched their lead on twenty minutes after Crook’s throw enabled Adam Bolder to find Jahmal Smith and he shot into the far corner, via a slight deflection.
Albion, belying their lowly league position,finished the half strongly.
Steven Nicholson forced a full length save from Crook and Harrison drove over from thirty yards,before superb approach play between Harrison and David Brown set up Liam Schofield who shot across goal.
Town started the second half in a hurry with a Liam Hardy run ending in a shot over the bar.
Dwayne Samuels,then provided an opportunity for Smith who lobbed narrowly over the top.
On 54 minutes Town’s pressure paid off when Hardy broke through and unselfishly squared to sub,Alex Metcalfe, who made it 3-0.
To their credit Albion never gave up and David Brown just missed a Kurtis Noble free kick at the far post, before Muller forced a double save from Crook.
On 73 minutes Albion reduced the deficit when a cross from the right was deflected to Kelvin Mathe and his cross shot was to hot for Crook to keep out.
Within two minutes,Town restored their two goal cushion with a brilliant turn and shot from Conor Sellars.
Both sides had late chances,with Harrison shooting wide for the visitors and Sellars and Samuels firing over for Town,before Smith rattled the Ossett upright.
Town
1 Crook, 2 Samuels, 3 Nelthorpe, 4 Nowakowski (Metcalfe 45 mins), 5 Bloomer, 6 Killock (c), 7 Bolder, 8 Brown (Sellars 70), 9 Hall (Yussuf 59), 10 Hardy, 11 Smith.
Unused subs 14 Taylor,16 Merris. Bookings nil
Scorers Brown 3 mins,Smith 20,Metcalfe 54,Sellars 75. Man of the Match Nelthorpe.
Att 221
By John Harrison
