West Riding County FA Trophy Round Two: Oxenhope Rec Reserves 8 Horsforth St Margaret's 1

Oxenhope Reserves marched into the next round after dispatching Horsforth, of the Leeds League, with a battling display on a heavy pitch.

The hosts were soon in front when Joel Gallagher played a through-ball to Sam Murphy. One on one with the keeper, he confidently placed the ball beyond the custodian.

Ten minutes later Murphy, who is in impressive scoring form this season, made it two with Gallagher providing an inch-perfect pass behind the visitors’ defence and into the path of the youngster to rifle home.

At this stage it looked comfortable for Oxenhope but some slack marking by the home side left the Horsforth striker with space and time to pick his spot to reduce the deficit.

The visitors came more into the game but when Oxenhope were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out, young Owen Williamson curled a delightful ball into the net at the near post to restore the two-goal cushion.

The home side took control again, pushing Horsforth on to the back foot. Gallagher, a constant threat up front, received the ball on the edge of the box and, with his back to goal, turned and smashed the ball into the net in one movement to make it 4-1.

As half-time approached, the visitors' keeper fumbled a strike from Murphy and Gallagher was the quickest to react and slot into an empty net for his second.

After the break Horsforth reverted to physical tactics but Oxenhope stood their ground and were in no mood to be intimidated. Midway through the second period, the home side made the tie safe when Craig Morris found space in the box. His shot was blocked by the keeper before he unselfishly squared the rebound to Gaz Ritson to fire in number six.

Ten minutes later Morris himself got on the scoresheet. He received the ball on the edge of the box and slammed it into the top left corner of the net, with the keeper rooted to the spot. Ritson completed the rout when his marker misjudged the flight of the ball and he capitalised by slotting past the keeper.

Oxenhope: Hudson, Fleetwood, Wellard, Scott, Ward, Blacka, Williamson (Ritson), White, Dyson, Murphy, Gallagher (Morris).

* County Cup holders Oxenhope’s second-round tie at Halifax League side Warley Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. They will try again this Saturday (2pm).