West Yorkshire League Cup Round One: Aberford 1 Oxenhope Rec 2

DESPITE several players being unavailable, Oxenhope came from a goal down to advance to the next round against a side four places above them.

In a game of few chances the visitors started brighter, so it was against the run of play when Aberford grabbed the lead on 20 minutes with a header from a corner.

On the half-hour, Oxenhope drew level from a flowing move. A long ball from Keann Shaw found Owen Williamson. He played in stand-in striker Scott Nelson, who found Tom Marshall, who beat two players in the box before placing his shot into the bottom right corner.

Oxenhope continued to be on the front foot, with the new pairing of Sean Quinlan and Luke Scott dominating midfield.

On the hour-mark, Oxenhope’s pressure eventually told. Nelson sliced a shot across the box which Marshall latched on to. He cleverly rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the empty net for his second.

They nearly doubled their advantage when an Aberford central defender's header was blown over his keeper by the strong wind but the custodian scrambled back and clawed the ball off the line.

On 75 minutes Oxenhope were reduced to ten men when a misplaced pass by Quinlan let in an Aberford striker. He was brought down by Shaw who was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Aberford pressed for the equaliser but a resolute Oxenhope defence hung on, though it was the visitors who came closest to scoring when, on the break, Marshall played in Lewis Hopkinson but his effort hit the upright.

Oxenhope are in cup action again this Saturday when they travel to Brighouse in the second round of the County Cup (2pm).

Oxenhope: Devlin, Ward, Williamson, Shaw, Scott D, Scott L, Quinlan, Polignone, Nelson, Hopkinson, Marshall.