Brighouse Old Boys 1 Oxenhope 2

Oxenhope gained three hard-earned points at Brighouse without really finding cohesion on a poor playing surface.

This was despite taking the lead in their first attack, Michael Garnett winning the ball and setting up Ollie Metcalfe, who cleverly beat his marker before drawing the keeper and slotting home.

It should have given the visitors the platform to show their credentials against a side languishing in the bottom three but instead it was the underdogs who carried the greater threat.

Oxenhope keeper Sam Lee had to make a superb diving save to tip over a rasping free-kick.

The Worth Valley side had to rely on breakaways, with leading goal-scorer Garnett having two good chances to increase their advantage when one-on-one with the keeper but both times being thwarted.

The visitors started to impose themselves more on the game in the second half and, on the hour-mark, Garnett made amends.

Man of the match Tom Marshall broke down the left, beat two defenders and his measured pass found the big striker, who took a touch before driving the ball beyond the keeper.

Oxenhope now relaxed and started to perform but, on 85 minutes, the result was back in the melting pot.

A Brighouse corner saw defender Scott Nelson slice his attempted clearance and, when the ball came down, it was bundled over the line in a goalmouth melee.

An anxious five minutes followed but Oxenhope held out and were relieved to hear the final whistle.

This Saturday they entertain bottom-of-the-table outfit Kippax at Marley (2pm).

Oxenhope: Lee, Day, McNicol, Nelson, Ward, Quinlan (White), Ives (Bailey), Trowers, Garnett, Metcalfe (Moriarty), Marshall.