West Yorkshire League Alliance Division One: Oxenhope Rec Reserves 2 Leeds City Reserves 1

Oxenhope’s second string knew they needed to be at their very best when they entertained leaders Leeds City Reserves and they produced an outstanding performance to claim a thoroughly deserved victory.

Rec set up their formation to stop Leeds playing and their plan worked, with every player carrying out their role. Jonathan Clewes, Graham Robinson and Lewis Hopkinson did not give the Leeds midfield any time on the ball, with Rob Pullan, Dayne Ward and Liam Blacka in dominant form at the back.

On the half-hour a Will Lee delivery found Hopkinson, who rose above everyone else to head against the bar and Gaz Ritson was on hand to tap in the rebound.

A through-ball by Clewes put Joe Brady in but the referee deemed him offside, even though he looked in his own half. With half-time approaching, an Oxenhope attack broke down and Leeds equalised on the counter-attack.

The visitors came close after the break from a free-kick which was floated into the box and their striker headed it towards the bottom corner but keeper Nick Hudson made a superb diving finger-tip save.

Oxenhope continued to hit the opposition on the break, with Lee twice going close. Rec’s front pair looked increasingly dangerous and, on 80 minutes, the home side were rewarded when a strike from Brady was headed into the path of sub Karl Wellard, who volleyed home a great goal from the edge of the area.

Oxenhope held on, with young Hopkinson picking up a well-merited man of the match.