West Yorkshire League Premier Division: Oxenhope 1 Horbury Town 1

A large crowd at the Recreation Ground were treated to a pulsating game which was in the balance right up until the final whistle.

Oxenhope’s Scott Nelson came closest to opening the scoring early on with his strike from distance just wide of the target, followed by a rasping shot from Will Lee that was saved by the Horbury keeper.

At the other end a cross rolled across the Oxenhope goal but with no Horbury player near to put the ball over the line.

Just before the break Oxenhope took the lead with a flowing movement that saw Lee win the ball in midfield. He played it out to Tom Marshall, who jinked his way past his marker before crossing to Chris Day, who flicked the ball into the path of Dan Moriarty to confidently hammer home.

After the break Marshall’s cross-cum-shot skimmed the top of the bar and a further snap shot was smothered by the keeper. At the other end Oxenhope keeper Sam Lee blocked a vicious strike.

On 80 minutes Horbury were back on level terms. A pass down the left appeared to drift out of play but, as the Oxenhope players appealed, the assistant referee waved play on. The ball was crossed to the far post and put away.

Horbury were reduced to ten men when Marshall’s marker hauled him down once too many times and he was shown a second yellow. The home side tried to press home their man advantage but could not get past a well-organised Horbury defence.

This Saturday (2.30pm) Oxenhope travel to third-placed Leeds City, whom they defeated in a memorable County Cup Final last season.

Oxenhope: Lee S, Nelson, Ritson, Lee W (Driver), Blacka, Kaine, Smith (Morris), Moriarty, Day, Quinlan, Marshall.

League Trophy First Round: Beeston Reserves 1 Oxenhope Reserves 0

Both teams are joint top of the Alliance, having made unbeaten starts, as Beeston came out on top in a closely-fought cup tie.

After a slow start, Oxenhope got more into the game and strikers Joel Gallagher and Sam Murphy had chances but Beeston’s back line were determined not to be beaten. The game ebbed and flowed with every tackle full-blooded.

Central defender and team stalwart Steve Davies had to leave the battle after sustaining a bad shoulder injury. Beeston took advantage and got on top, forcing two top-class saves from keeper Nick Hudson.

Oxenhope started the second half strongly. On the hour-mark, young Murphy turned his marker and broke into the box but, just as he was about to pull the trigger, was blocked with a last-ditch sliding tackle. Both defences looked unbreachable but, on 75 minutes, the deadlock was broken when a Beeston player smashed home an unstoppable half-volley from 20 yards, giving keeper Hudson no chance.

Oxenhope threw everything at Beeston but the home side held out to the final whistle.

This Saturday the reserves will hope to bounce back by maintaining their 100 per cent record in the league when they entertain Pool Reserves (2.30pm).

Craven League Division One: Oxenhope Thirds 5 Pendle 3

Oxenhope Thirds pulled off the weekend’s surprise result in Division Two by toppling division leaders Pendle.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play but Andy Fox’s quickfire double on the half-hour put the home side deservedly in front.

The first was a superb passing movement involving young Joe Cutler, Paul Quinlan, Tom Brown and then Karl Wellard supplying the cross for Fox to meet on the half-volley. His second came moments later when a set-piece from Chris Newman was met by a fine header.

Oxenhope now had the upper hand and were rewarded when Rick McCullough threaded the ball through to Fox, who unselfishly played in Tom Thompson to lob the on-rushing keeper.

Oxenhope increased their advantage when Brown cut the ball back to Dan Fazackerley, who smashed the ball home. Pendle reduced the deficit to 4-2 before Thompson doubled his tally when a goal-kick from keeper Rick Driver was met by Quinlan. He flicked the ball on to Thompson to twist and turn past his marker before cutting into the box to rifle home and seal the points.

This Saturday sees a local derby when the Thirds entertain FC Sporting Keighley (2pm).