Shelley 1 Oxenhope Rec 2

OXENHOPE completed a league double over Shelley in a game of two halves, the home side dominating the first period and Rec having the better of the second.

The visitors started the brighter but on ten minutes a corner was swung in and the partial clearance fell to Aiden Schofield on the edge of the box and he blasted home.

Wayward finishing and a diving finger-tip save by keeper Sam Lee enabled Oxenhope to keep the deficit to one at the break.

In the second half Rec went on the offensive and their perseverance was rewarded on the hour.

Man of the match Chris Day won the ball in his own half and laid it off to Dan Moriarty, who put a cross-field pass to Tom Marshall on the left. He beat his marker and shot across the keeper before Aaron Hollindrake followed up to tap in from close range.

Oxenhope continued to press, with Marshall a continuous threat down the left. His jinking run and shot produced a good save before he put in Leon Smith, who shot over with the goal at his mercy.

Shelley were now restricted to counter-attacks and, on one such foray, keeper Lee pulled off another finger-tip save.

It looked as if the points would be shared but, in the final minutes, Marshall put in Smith. His strike deflected off the keeper and into the path of the advancing Liam McNicol to tuck the ball away and clinch all three points.

This Saturday Oxenhope visit relegation-threatened East End Park (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee, Day, McNicol, Metcalfe, Nelson, White, Hopkinson (Smith), Moriarty, Hollindrake, Quinlan, Marshall.

Oxenhope Reserves 2 Robin Hood Reserves 0

OXENHOPE moved through to the League Trophy quarter-finals but rued a hatful of missed chances to make the victory more convincing.

In their first attack, James Bailey delivered an awkward cross which a defender hit straight at his own goal but Robin Hood’s keeper made a smart save.

Chances galore were missed before Joe Brady reacted quickest to a Liam Blacka free-kick from the edge of the box to put the hosts ahead.

Leroy Hickman then forced a double save before Karl Wellard’s scissor-kick from the edge of the box smashed against the post.

The home side’s profligacy was nearly punished when Robin Hood’s striker burst through the home defence but keeper Nick Hudson saved well.

On 85 minutes the result was made safe when Brady was released by Tom Thompson. He unselfishly squared to the on-rushing player-manager Steve Davies, who calmly applied a left-foot finish to seal a last-eight trip to Beeston Reserves.

This Saturday the reserves chase more silverware when they host Ingrow and Worth Valley Reserves in a Keighley Supplementary Cup semi-final (1.30pm).

Manningham All Stars 2 Oxenhope Thirds 4

Oxenhope thirds moved back into contention for one of the promotion slots from Craven League Division Two.

The visitors took the lead with a well-worked one-touch passing movement involving Dale Hawker, Connor Madden and Nivard Trowers which left Joel Gallagher one on one with the keeper and he coolly rolled the ball under the keeper.

Oxenhope looked comfortable but against the run of play Manningham turned the game on its head, first equalising and then taking the lead.

Manager Lee Collins took action and it worked on the stroke of half-time as Liam Dyson weaved past three defenders and crossed the ball to dispatch the equaliser.

On the hour Oxenhope regained the lead as Connor McGrann won the ball and fed Chris Fazackerley, who played the perfect ball over the top to Tony Cooper. He attempted to round the keeper but was brought down and Trowers stepped up to place the spot kick beyond the keeper.

Manningham did their best to force an equaliser but found returning keeper Pete Gower and centre back pairing of Dan Scott and Tony Cox in commanding form. The game was made safe when Madden switched the ball to sub Paul Quinlan, who smashed the ball into the top corner.

This Saturday the thirds travel to Steeton Reserves in a Keighley Supplementary Cup semi-final (1.30pm).