Oxenhope Rec 2 Wetherby 1

OXENHOPE pulled out a victory from the jaws of defeat at Wetherby.

The home side trailed to a first-half goal but hit back with two in the final ten minutes to snatch all three points.

An uneventful first half saw the teams cancelling each other out but the visitors grabbed the lead on 40 minutes with a long ball down-field for their striker to hammer past keeper Sam Lee, who up until that point had been a spectator.

In the second half Oxenhope showed more urgency and gradually started to carve their way through Wetherby’s well-organised defence, only to find keeper Darren Hooper in top form.

Just as it appeared that Oxenhope would lose their second game in four days, Dan Moriarty fired in a powerful shot from out on the right flank and a Wetherby player inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.

With this encouragement the home side continued to drive forwards and, in the dying minutes, Moriarty floated in a precise corner and sub Ellis Atha rose and headed past a despairing Wetherby defence.

Oxenhope,  due to host surprise package Brighouse tonight, travel to Robin Hood on Saturday (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee, Day, McNicol, Nelson, Kaine, White, Smith, Moriarty, Morris (Atha), Metcalfe, Marshall.

Beeston 5 Oxenhope Rec 1

Earlier in mid-week, Oxenhope travelled to in-form top-of-the-table Beeston and it was probably not the best time to go with an understrength squad.

On the night Beeston were just too strong in every department and ran out comfortable winners.

The home side took the lead on ten minutes when a cross was cut back and smashed in.

Beeston doubled their advantage and an unstoppable volley gave them a three-goal lead on 35 minutes.

Oxenhope gave themselves hope just before the break when a flowing move down the right involving Craig Morris and Leon Smith allowed Michael Garnett to reduce the arrears.

After the break though it was one-way traffic. On the hour, a free-kick was headed in and just before the final whistle a strike from distance made it five. It could have been a lot worse but for the heroics of keeper Sam Lee.

Oxenhope: Lee, Quinlan (McCullough), Ritson, Nelson, Scott (Burns), Morris (Hawker), Hickman, Moriarty, Garnett, Metcalfe, Smith.

Headingley Reserves 1 Oxenhope Rec Reserves 7

Oxenhope travelled to Headingley’s superb new ground at Leeds University’s sports complex.

The visitors went behind to an early goal but hit back with a magnificent seven to move them into second place. It was all the more incredible as they were without a recognised striker in the squad.

On the half hour Liam Blacka levelled from a free-kick before defender Dale Hawker made space for himself and smashed the ball home just before the break.

Confidence grew in the second half as Tom Thompson was played in by Will Lee, who then added a fourth.

The home side then put through their own goal before Grez Robinson scored the goal of the game, lobbing the keeper from just inside the opponents’ half. The rout was completed when player-manager Steve Davies set Lee up to score his second.

This Saturday the reserves play their first home game of the campaign on the Centenary Pitch against Robin Hood Reserves.