West Yorkshire League Premier Division: Knaresborough Town 1 Oxenhope Rec 2

OXENHOPE’S revival continued with another good team performance to claim a gritty victory over a Town side who sat six places above them.

The result was all the more impressive as three key players – Michael Garnett, James Gill and Dan Moriarty – were unavailable.

The home side started strongly, passing the ball round effectively that had Oxenhope chasing the game.

After ten minutes Knaresborough were awarded a penalty when defender Dayne Ward was harshly judged to have brought down a striker and the spot-kick was firmly converted.

The visitors started to get a foothold in the game, with the pace of Tom Baker and Tom Marshall causing problems down the flanks.

On 25 minutes Baker broke down the right and his cross was met by both Lewis Hopkinson and the home keeper. The ball fell kindly for Joe Jalil to dispatch the equaliser.

Knaresborough fought back but the Oxenhope defence of Ward, Scott Nelson and youngsters Dan Scott and Owen Williamson coped admirably. When they were beaten, keeper Nick Hudson produced a full-length diving save to turn the ball round the post.

Early in the second half it was again the home side that exerted early pressure. But once more Oxenhope coped and again showed they could match them, with Hopkinson, Jalil and Ben White working tirelessly in midfield.

Nelson then collected the ball in his own half and went on a powerful run, evading several tackles. He played the ball out to Baker, who then found Jalil and his inch-perfect cross was returned to Nelson but, with the goal at his mercy, the big defender blazed over.

Oxenhope were now taking control and the winner came soon after when good team work proved key. A Hopkinson free-kick found man of the match Jalil, who headed on to Baker. He put the ball into the danger area and Hopkinson flicked the ball beyond the keeper and into the net.

The home side rallied but Oxenhope were in no mood to let the three valuable points slip through their grasp.

This Saturday they entertain Pool (2pm).

Oxenhope: Hudson, Ward, Williamson, Nelson, Scott, White, Baker, Hopkinson, Day (Ritson), Jalil, Marshall (Dyson).