Oxenhope 7, Ripon City 2

OXENHOPE produced an improved second-half performance to pull away from relegation-threatened Ripon City in a West Yorkshire League game that was spoilt by the strong wind.

The home side had the better of the early exchanges in the Premier Division contest but Ripon gradually started to impose themselves and used the wind to their advantage as they pushed Oxenhope onto the back foot.

The visitors took the lead just before the half-hour mark when a free-kick blown into the penalty area saw keeper Sam Lee and defenders collide and the Ripon striker headed into an empty net.

Ripon's confidence grew and Oxenhope had Josh Kaine to thank for goalline clearance from a corner, before Lee had to dive full length to stop a powerful strike.

At the other end the Ripon keeper tipped a Chris Day header round the post and, from the resulting corner, Day hit a stinging shot which the keeper saved. Oxenhope drew level just before the break when a cross-shot from Will Wells on the right found the far corner of the net.

After the interval, with the wind in their favour, Oxenhope started to dominate and took the lead on the hour when Tom Marshall's shot went in off the keeper.

Within minutes the home side extended their advantage as Leon Smith crossed to young Lewis Hopkinson on the edge of the box and he drove the ball home.

This opened the floodgates and Marshall played in Smith, whose strike hit the crossbar, while a Craig Morris strike was beaten out by the keeper but Marshall slammed the follow-up into the net.

The Ripon keeper then made another block, only for the ball to fall kindly for Liam McNicol to slot in number five.

Morris then cut in from the left and fired in from a tight angle, before Smith outpaced the Ripon defence and unselfishly rolled the ball across goal and into the path of the on-rushing Morris to score the seventh.

Ripon never gave up and their efforts were rewarded when they scored a late consolation goal.

OXENHOPE: Lee, Wells, Ritson, Nelson, Walton, Kaine, Day, Quinlan (Smith), Garnett (Morris), Hopkinson, Marshall (McNicol).

Oxenhope 4, Otley Town 1

A GOOD-sized crowd had turned out in midweek to see Oxenhope produce an impressive second-half display to overcome Otley.

Leon Smith shot wide early on but the visitors were dangerous on the break and keeper Sam Lee made a great double save to keep them out.

Oxenhope edged ahead on 20 minutes when Dan Moriarty produced a pin-point delivery from a corner and Michael Garnett made no mistake with a powerful header.

Otley levelled on 30 minutes when a corner was blocked three times before a fourth strike proved decisive.

The visitors now took control and when Oxenhope did break out, Gaz Ritson took too many touches and the chance went.

The home side reverted to a flat back four after the break and this steadied the ship, regaining the lead when Lewis Hopkinson chipped over the defence for Smith to volley into the net.

A Moriarty free-kick then found Ollie Metcalfe and he dribbled past two defenders, passed to Tom Marshall but the keeper tipped his strike round the post.

On 80 minutes the constant pressure eventually told as Marshall collected the ball, weaved his way around several defenders, played in Garnett and he controlled the ball before turning his marker and blasting beyond the keeper.

Five minutes later Marshall himself on the scoresheet, cutting in and letting fly from distance to give the keeper no chance.

OXENHOPE: Lee, Day, Nelson, Metcalfe, Walton, Hopkinson (Kaine), Morris, Moriarty (Quinlan), Garnett, Smith (Marshall), Ritson.

Oxenhope were playing host to runaway leaders Field last night and on Saturday they entertain Boroughbridge.

Oxenhope Reserves 5, Boroughbridge Reserves 2

OXENHOPE'S second string stormed to the summit of Alliance Division One with a comfortable victory over mid-table Boroughbridge, while at the same time gaining revenge for a 3-0 defeat earlier in the season.

The hosts stormed into a three-goal lead inside half an hour, the opener coming on ten minutes when Tom Thompson found himself free in the box and dragged his shot past the stranded keeper.

Good interplay between skipper Will Lee and Leroy Hickman then enabled Jonathan Clewes to break through and he drilled his shot in at the near post.

James Bailey then turned his marker and crossed to the far post for Hickman to head in the third goal.

After the break, with the wind now in Boroughbridge's favour, they applied the pressure and a long ball over the home defence enabled their striker to smash past keeper Nick Hudson.

Oxenhope restored their three-goal advantage when Lee and Hickman played a one-two and the former player thrashed his shot beyond the keeper. Lee then found space and fired in a shot which Bailey bravely got his head to for number five.

The home side now knew the points were theirs but got caught on the break as Boroughbridge nicked a late reply.

The reserves host East End Park Reserves on Saturday as they continue their quest for the title.