In a sodden pitch at the Waratahs sportsground, Denley started the better.

A split-second defenders’ hand-ball in the box gave Denley striker Harley Smith the chance to score from a penalty. Smith calmly slotted the kick away but was ruled off-side minutes later when a second goal beckoned.

Gladdies equalised soon after against the run of play when Tony Slingsby sent a shot under keeper Pat Driver’s reach.

A red card early in the second half saw Gladdies down to 10 men, but the send-off only added to the side’s urgency.

A free kick from Paul Slingsby was deflected past the keeper, followed quickly by another when Tony Slingsby took a strong shot to make it 3-1. Denley struggled to hold possession against a determined Gladdies defence.

Meantime, a third straight loss has seen the competition lead slip away from Millthorpe Tigers.

The Tigers were comprehensively beaten by Barnstoneworth United on Saturday in a game with echoes in a legend rooted in the lore of ancient British television that gave the club its name.

Named after a team from ‘Ripping Yarns’ that goes down ‘eight bloody one’ for the umpteenth time, Barnstoneworth United turned the tables on the myth with a 8-1 trouncing of Millthorpe.

Tigers striker David Wells opened the scoring, but from there it was one-way traffic.

A double from midfielder Nigel Hobden and goals from Andy Holmes, Chris Jacobs and Dan Kennedy delivered a 5-1 half-time score-line.

One more after the break from Brett Hazzard and two from Glenn Harpley completed the confidence-building win in the run home to the semis, with United now at the top of the table.