West Riding County FA Challenge Cup first round: Hebden Royd 1 Oxenhope 2

OXENHOPE went through after securing victory in a thoroughly entertaining cup tie.

The Halifax & District League hosts, who are unbeaten in second place in their Premier Division, started brightly, using their height and physical strength to good effect to put the West Yorkshire League side on the back foot.

However, gradually Oxenhope got their passing game together and started to dominate the centre of the park, with Jonathan Clewes, Ben White and Lewis Hopkinson linking up well.

Good moves involving the midfield trio gave Joel Gallagher and Liam Dyson a sight of goal on several occasions but the keeper saved all their efforts.

The home side were now relying on breakaways but found Oxenhope keeper Nick Hudson in equally good form, although Hopkinson nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful free-kick from distance which shaved the bar.

Goalless at the break, Hebden Royd dominated the early part of the second half, but on the hour the 2014 County Cup winners took the lead.

Hopkinson collected the ball down the right and crossed to Gallagher, who controlled it, turned and struck a shot firmly past the keeper.

Minutes later, he nearly doubled his tally when he struck the bar and, not long after, the woodwork came to the home side's rescue once again, with Clewes rattling a post.

These efforts could have come back to haunt Oxenhope when Hebden Royd scored a freakish equaliser on 70 minutes.

Following a corner, a strong shot from outside the box that was going well wide of the target cannoned off the back of one of the home players, wrong-footed Hudson and found the net.

Now the game swung from end to end as both teams went for the victory, with the keepers pulling off some good saves.

On 80 minutes, Oxenhope broke downfield, and Clewes twisted and turned his way past players before his pass was handled by a defender, man of the match Hopkinson confidently sending the keeper the wrong way with the resulting penalty.

The home side cranked up their efforts to send the tie into extra-time but Scott Nelson and Dan Scott, at the heart of the Oxenhope defence, headed away all their attempts.

This Saturday, Oxenhope entertain Ilkley Town in the league (2.30).

Oxenhope: Hudson, Makinson (Fleetwood), Williamson (Chapman), Scott, Nelson, White, Dyson, Hopkinson, Gallagher, Clewes, Blacka.

West Riding County FA Challenge Trophy first round: Oxenhope Reserves 20 New Carlton 0

OXENHOPE’S second string completely outplayed their visitors from the Wakefield & District League.

Jason McGee and Craig Morris led the way with five goals each, with Karl Wellard and Tom Baker each bagging hat-tricks.

Liam Fothergill (2), Declan McLaren and James Lee also hit the target.

On Saturday, the reserves travel to Wyke Reserves in the league (2.30).