West Yorkshire League Premier Division: Oxenhope 1 Knaresborough Town 1

THIS entertaining draw at the Recreation Ground saw both sides intent on playing quick, attacking football.

Early on a shot from a Knaresborough striker skimmed the bar, a powerful strike from distance by Scott Nelson flashed just wide and a header by Chris Day was well saved.

On the half-hour the home side took the lead when a free-kick on the edge of the box from Ollie Metcalfe was headed in at the far post by Leon Smith.

The game took a twist after 60 minutes when Josh Kaine was adjudged by the referee, after consultation with his assistants, to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity by bringing a striker down and was shown a straight red card.

Knaresborough equalised from the spot but even that was controversial as the penalty-taker was accused of touching the ball twice when converting the kick.

Seething with injustice, the ten men of Oxenhope piled on the pressure and a succession of corners followed but these were either saved or cleared off the line. On 80 minutes a Knaresborough defender brought down the advancing Smith on the edge of the box and he too was shown red.

With both sides now down to ten men, the home side launched wave after wave of advances on the visitors’ goal but Knaresborough were always dangerous on the counter-attack. In the dying minutes Smith fired over with just the keeper to beat.

This Saturday sixth placed Oxenhope entertain Horbury Town, who are two places above them in the Premier Division (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee S, Nelson, McNicol, Lee W (Quinlan), Blacka, Kaine, Driver, Metcalfe, Day (Fleetwood), Smith, Marshall.

Alliance Division One: Wyke Reserves 0 Oxenhope Reserves 5

Oxenhope made it ten straight wins, going ahead thanks to a 20-yard free-kick into the top left corner by Craig Morris.

Minutes later Morris floated a free-kick into the box and Steve Davies’ diving header went inches wide. Joel Gallagher, Morris and young Sam Murphy all saw chances go begging.

On 40 minutes a mistake by a Wyke defender fell to Murphy, who smashed the ball into the net. On the stroke of half-time Murphy made it three when the Wyke keeper spilled a long-range shot and the youngster was the first to react.

On the hour Oxenhope bagged their fourth as sub Andy Fox squared the perfect ball to Gallagher to calmly slot in. Five minutes later Gallagher repaid the compliment as Fox made it five. Oxenhope’s control was such that they did not concede a single corner in the entire 90 minutes.

This coming Saturday sees the first big clash of the season when the joint top two sides – who are both unbeaten – go head to head in the first round of the League Trophy when Oxenhope travel to Beeston Reserves (2pm).