Burley Trojans 0 Spa Athletic 5

Burley Trojans entertained 2002 Harrogate Premier League Champions Spa Athletic in a one-sided affair that the hosts will have to put down as a bad day at the office.

Inspirational player manager Jamie Davey re called himself to the side to marshall an inexperienced back four alongside new club captain Jamie Arkell.

The Burley midfield quartet of Danny Bryan, Oli Blair, James Hoskin and Richard Wood failed to get to grips with the energetic Spa midfield.

Trojans found themselves two down inside 20 minutes as first the otherwise impressive Shane Etherington spilled a shot for the Spa striker to tap in and then a rare David Healey error allowed the Spa forward to run unopposed towards the Trojan goal and casually place the ball in the bottom corner.

At the other end a free-kick from Tom McDermott and a snap shot from Phil Thommeson were the only bright points in a dour first-half display.

The second-half started in a far more positive fashion for Trojans with Davey spraying the ball around the pitch with an exquisite range of passes that created two chances first for Wood and then McDermott but both strikes failed to test the ‘keeper. The withdrawal of Davey through injury appeared to be the final nail in the coffin for Trojans as it started a defensive collapse which saw Trojans concede three goals in the final 20 minutes and put an end to the contest.

A late piece of magic from Hoskin where he skipped round four Spa players failed to result in a goal and give the combative midfielder the just reward for his efforts.

Match point though was awarded to defensive stalwart Davey whose extra bit of class on the ball was enough for the opposing manager to describe Davey’s performance as ‘phenomenal’.