Oxenhope 8 Pool 0

OXENHOPE who have played well in their opening games this season at last got their reward in goals. This mid week game swung from end to end but on 20 minutes the home side took the lead, Chris Day lobbed the ball over the Pool defence and Dan Moriarty ran onto it and clinically dispatched his strike into the top corner. O

n the half hour a corner from Moriarty was met by Liam McNicol, his shot was blocked but Michael Garnett was on hand to put the ball into the back of the net.

The home side were now in control and ten minutes later Tom Marshall jinked his way down the left, crossed to the far post for Leon Smith to hammer home from an acute angle. Just before the break Marshall made it four scoring a superb individual goal, dribbling his way past three defenders before placing his shot beyond the keeper.

After the break the home side soon got the upper hand, once more Moriarty ran onto a long ball, took a touch before stroking the ball home.

Minutes later a poor kick from the keeper went straight to Garnett who punished the error with his second. On 70 minutes Sean Quinlan got in on the goal glut curling in a delightful shot in at the far post and late on man of the match Smith scored his second latching on to a weighted pass from Marshall.

Saturday’s home game against Bardsey was postponed when the visitors could not raise a team, this coming Saturday Oxenhope travel to Shelley’s superb ground at Storthes Hall (2.30pm).

OXENHOPE: Lee S, Nelson, McNicol, Lee W, Metcalfe, Kaine, Smith, Moriarty, Day (Garnett) (Hopkinson), Moriarty, Marshall.

Alliance Division One

Horbury Reserves 2 Oxenhope Reserves 3

OXENHOPE’S second string fielded a weakened side and was made to work hard to gain maximum points to maintain their position at the top of the league against a physical and well organised Horbury Town.

Ben White played in new signing Danny Driver and his cross was flicked in by Dayne Ward for the opener. Oxenhope then came under pressure but Rob Pullen and man of the match Anthony Cox were solid at the back but eventually the pressure did tell as the home side took advantage of a slip to equalise.

In the final minute of the half Oxenhope regained their advantage when Pullen put through a neat pass to Dan Moriarty who showed his class with a clinical finish.

The second half proved to be a hard slog of a midfield battle, then with ten minutes to go the home side equalised with Oxenhope vainly appealing for off side.

In the final minute Oxenhope’s keeper Nick Hudson made a fingertip save to turn the ball around the post, he caught the resulting corner and launched Oxenhope down field on the counter attack, the ball fell to Moriarty who weaved his way past two defenders before unleashing a powerful strike on goal, the Horbury keeper could only parry it and the on rushing Joe Jalil made no mistake from close range to grab all three points.

This Saturday the reserves entertain Leeds City Reserves at the Recreation Ground (2.30pm).