West Riding County FA Challenge Cup Round Two: Oxenhope 2 Hunslet 4

OXENHOPE bowed out of this season’s County Cup to their fellow West Yorkshire League Premier Division opponents.

Their cause was not helped by several players being unavailable to play through injuries and work commitments.

It looked ominous from the start as the visitors exerted the early pressure and so it was against the run of play when Oxenhope, who won the competition in 2015, took the lead.

Tom Marshall broke down field, passed the ball out to Jonathan Clewes and his measured cross was converted with a firm header from stand-in striker Scott Nelson.

Hunslet continued to power forwards and Oxenhope keeper Eddie Jackson produced two top-drawer saves to keep them at bay.

But on the half-hour mark, a scramble in the Oxenhope goalmouth saw the visitors score at the third attempt.

Only minutes later the home side regained the advantage, Nelson heading on a corner and Ross Chapman thumping the ball into the roof of the net. But just before the break Hunslet equalised when a raking cross from the left was met with a powerful finish.

After the break Oxenhope lost Marshall, their most influential player, with a knee injury and, soon after, Hunslet grabbed the lead when a cross to the far post was poked in.

The home side raised their game and it now became a battle as the play swung from end to end. Oxenhope gradually gained the upper hand, with man of the match Ben White dominant in midfield. Their best chance came when Luke Fleetwood linked up with Danny Driver, only for Liam Dyson’s effort to narrowly miss the target.

The hosts' pressure was all in vain when Hunslet broke away and sealed the tie with a well-taken fourth with ten minutes left.

Oxenhope look to bounce back from this cup disappointment at in-form leaders Carlton on Saturday (2pm).

Oxenhope: Jackson, Driver, Ritson, Chapman, Ward (Pepper), Jalil, White, Dyson, Clewes, Nelson, Marshall (Fleetwood).

In the County Trophy, Oxenhope Reserves went through to the third round without kicking a ball as Dram Reserves, from the West Riding County Amateur League, could not raise a team.

This Saturday the reserves entertain Pool Reserves, hoping to extend their seven-game winning run (2.30pm).

CRAVEN LEAGUE

Division One: Oxenhope Thirds 4 Cowling 5

Bottom of the table Oxenhope Thirds gave league front runners Cowling a scare when the youngsters led 3-1 early in the second half but the more experienced leaders hit back to take the points with a 5-4 victory. Oxenhope’s scorers were James Lee (2), Eddie Pawson and Joel Gallagher.