West Yorkshire League Alliance Division One: Leeds City Reserves 1 Oxenhope Rec Reserves 3

Oxenhope’s second string went clear at the top of the table with their first ever points at Leeds City. The result was all the more impressive as several of their regular line-up were unavailable.

The visitors took the lead after five minutes when two of their youngsters combined – a perfectly-flighted corner by Owen Williamson was headed home by Dan Scott.

This was a tense encounter, with Leeds playing their intricate passing game and Oxenhope forced to defend and reply with swift counter-attacks.

Leeds started the second period strongly, forcing Rec on to the back foot but, even when they did break through the defence, they found Oxenhope keeper Nick Hudson in solid form. His handling in extremely wet conditions was exceptional.

With 20 minutes left Leeds struck the equaliser when they broke down the right and into the box. Hudson sprinted from his line to close the Leeds striker down but the ball was squared to his fellow striker to slot into an empty net.

The home side might have expected to go on and take all three points but Oxenhope shuffled things round. Sub James Bailey fed the ball into the box and Sam Murphy took a touch before hitting a firm shot that the keeper got a hand to but could not prevent going in.

Oxenhope continued to press forwards, Liam Dyson and Murphy going close, but it was man of the match keeper Hudson who made the points safe when he collected the ball in his own box and launched a high punt straight down field over his Leeds counterpart and into the net, much to the jubilation of his team-mates!

This Saturday the reserves bid to make it 13 straight wins on the bounce when they entertain Brighouse Reserves (2pm).