West Yorkshire League Cup: Oxenhope Rec 0 Beeston 1

Oxenhope bowed out in a closely-fought game that saw title hopefuls Beeston maintain their chances of winning a knockout triple, including the County Cup.

The tie was spoilt by a strong wind that faced Oxenhope in the first period but, despite being under pressure for most of the half, the home side created several chances on the break.

Dan Moriarty just failed to get his head to a Leon Smith cross, while Tom Marshall ran onto a long ball but the custodian was quick off his line to beat him to it.

Beeston had several half-chances but keeper Sam Lee was rarely troubled.

With the wind in their favour after the turnaround, Oxenhope put the visitors under pressure, pumping crosses and long balls into the box, but Beeston proved why they have one of the best defensive records in the league by dealing with everything thrown at them.

On the hour the deadlock was broken when a cross from the right was headed in despite Lee’s best attempts to claw the ball away.

The home side regrouped and turned up the heat, chances falling to Michael Garnett, Jonathan Clewes and Smith but each time goalmouth blocks were made as Beeston held on.

The best chance came from a Moriarty corner when Marshall headed on to Jason Walton but the big defender’s header skimmed the bar, while a curler from sub Sam Murphy drifted just wide.

A good penalty appeal for Rec was turned down late on as Beeston progressed into the quarter-finals.

On Saturday Oxenhope travel to Horbury Town in the league (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee, Nelson, Williamson, Metcalfe, Walton, White, Smith, Moriarty, Garnett, Clewes, Marshall (Murphy).

Alliance Division One: Headingley Reserves 0 Oxenhope Rec Reserves 3

After their shock exit from the Keighley Supplementary Cup, Oxenhope’s second string bounced back convincingly.

They went ahead on five minutes when Craig Morris crossed for Chris Day to power in a header. Oxenhope maintained the pressure with further chances falling to Morris, Day and Danny Driver.

On the half-hour they doubled their advantage when Luke Fleetwood put through Driver, who went past his marker and unleashed a low shot that a Headingley defender deflected into his own net in attempting to block it.

With half-time approaching, Joe Jalil turned two players and chipped an inch-perfect pass for Driver to smash home Oxenhope’s third.

In the second half, man of the match Jalil was picking passes at will and further chances fell to Day, Morris, Driver and Lewis Hopkinson but Headingley battled hard to keep the deficit to three.

Oxenhope face a mouth-watering fixture on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash at closest rivals Beeston Reserves (2.30pm). The Leeds side have already knocked the Worth Valley outfit out of two cups this season.