West Riding County Women's League

Premier Division

Keighley Oaks 5

Brighouse Athletic 1

AFTER five straight defeats in league and cup, including a 4-3 league defeat at Brighouse Athletic that was particularly hard to bear, bottom-of-the-table Keighley Oaks have gained emphatic revenge.

Having to throw some of their youngsters in, such as 16-year-olds twins Issy and Naomi di Franco, Chloe Green and Lauren Murgatroyd, the Oaks took their chances in a game that wasn't as one sided as the score suggests.

Rachel Houldsworth, Jodie Elliott and Kirsty Delaney were just some of those who were missing but Mollie McMahon, normally a defender but playing in midfield, and Emma Firth, at centre back, were among those returning, while Melissa Holdsworth defied an injured foot to play.

She hit the bar within the first five minutes but Oaks had to wait until the 37th minute to take the lead when Naomi di Franco crossed for Becky Granger to score.

Brighouse, who had pace up front and wide, equalised a minute later with a 25-yarder into the top corner but the second half emphatically belonged to Oaks, despite having to clear a shot off the line.

The hosts made it 2-1 after 49 minutes when Holdsworth scored from a direct free-kick, with Athletic perhaps expecting Becky Granger to shoot, and Lauren Adams made it 3-1 two minutes later, netting from a Holdsworth cross.

Their player of the match Granger then completed her hat-trick with goals in the 62nd and 78th minutes, taking the ball round the keeper just after the hour and shooting in from 35 yards out to finish the scoring.

The defence of full backs Amy Phelan and Sophie Gaines and centre backs Bobby Gaines and Emma Firth was solid, while Oaks were also able to give Chloe Green and Lauren Murgatroyd some game-time late on.

With their second league win of the season under their belt, manager Steve Brett's Oaks are next in action on Sunday, March 22 at home to second-placed Hemsworth Miners' Welfare.