West Riding County FA Challenge Cup Round Two: Oxenhope Rec 2 Warley Town 2 (Warley won 4-2 on penalties)

A SENDING-OFF and a tale of missed penalties saw holders Oxenhope bow out of this season’s County Cup following a shoot-out.

The tie was played at Marley as both team’s pitches were waterlogged. The visitors drew first blood after ten minutes when sloppy defending allowed a break down the left and a cross culminated with a good finish.

Oxenhope hit back when a run down the left flank by Tom Marshall saw his cross turned into the net by a Warley defender. Soon after, Lewis Hopkinson was brought down in the box but skipper Dan Moriarty’s spot-kick hit the post and his follow-up went wide.

Just before the break Oxenhope were awarded another penalty for hand-ball. This time Chris Day took responsibility and hammered the ball past the keeper.

The second half saw both teams attacking in an end-to-end game with both creating chances.

On the hour, an altercation between the Warley right back and Marshall resulted in the defender receiving a yellow card and Marshall a straight red.

This saw the Halifax team grow in confidence as Oxenhope were forced to defend but the ten men were happy to soak up the pressure.

Continuous heavy rain had seen the playing surface deteriorate. With ten minutes left to play, a slip by keeper Sam Lee when kicking saw the ball go straight to a Warley striker, who passed the ball into the empty net.

Both teams tried to settle the contest in normal time, with a powerful strike from Will Lee just going the wrong side of the far post.

Ties level after normal time in this season’s competition go straight to penalties. Moriarty and Liam McNicol scored, and Sam Lee saved the first Warley spot-kick, to put Oxenhope in a strong position.

However, misses by Scott Nelson, Liam Blacka and Will Lee proved costly as the Halifax League side scored from each of their remaining penalties to knock the holders out.

Oxenhope will now need to bounce back on Saturday as they start their defence of the Keighley Cup when they visit last season’s beaten finalists Steeton (1.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee S, Nelson, McNicol, Kaine, Blacka, Clewes (Lee W), Hopkinson, Moriarty, Day (Garnett), Quinlan, Marshall.