West Yorkshire League – League Cup second round: Oxenhope Rec 2 Pool 3 (after extra-time)

OXENHOPE were knocked out by Pool, who are seven places above them in the Premier Division, but only after a close encounter which went to extra-time.

On a heavy, slippery pitch the visitors took an early lead when young Dan Scott misjudged the ball and Tom Fleming nipped in and rounded keeper Eddie Jackson.

Oxenhope levelled on the half-hour when a quality free-kick by Joe Jalil was headed across goal by James Gill and Tom Marshall nodded in.

Just before the break the visitors were reduced to ten men when Marshall was hacked down from behind and Nick Hewitt was given a straight red card.

However, Pool hit back on the stroke of half-time when Owen Williamson was caught dwelling on the ball. It was flicked across goal from a tight angle and Richard Bull made no mistake.

Oxenhope came out for the second half determined to make amends and were rewarded on the hour when a long ball from Gill was cleared by the Pool keeper but the ball ricocheted off his own defender and Marshall was on it like a flash to score his second.

Both teams had chances to clinch the tie, keeper Jackson pulling off a top-drawer save and then keeping another shot out with his legs. At the other end, Michael Garnett, Gill and Marshall all saw their efforts held by in-form Pool keeper Andy Doey.

As the pitch cut up, both teams struggled to keep up the tempo as the tie went to extra-time.

Pool adapted to the heavy conditions and took the lead early in the second period.

A poor dead-ball kick went straight to Fleming and he drilled home past Jackson. Minutes later the home side had a golden chance to level.

A flowing move involving sub Luke Fleetwood, Jalil and Marshall saw the latter’s strike hand-balled in the box. Gill struck a powerful spot-kick heading for the top corner but Doey produced a magnificent full-length diving save to tip it over the bar.

Oxenhope threw everything they had in the dying minutes but could not break down a resolute defence.

This Saturday Oxenhope travel to Steeton in the second round of the Keighley Cup (1.30pm).

Oxenhope: Jackson, Jalil, Williamson, Nelson (Ward), Scott, White (Fleetwood), Hopkinson (Bailey), Gill, Garnett, Dyson, Marshall.