West Yorkshire League Premier Division: Horbury Town 3 Oxenhope Rec 2

TWO late goals saw Oxenhope heartbroken as they left Horbury with nothing when it looked like they would gain a crucial victory in their fight for survival.

With ten minutes left, understrength Rec led 2-1 but a penalty – which resulted in a second yellow card for Dayne Ward – saw the hosts equalise and then snatch a last-minute winner.

Against opponents who sat five places above them, Oxenhope started brightly with Joel Gallagher, Lewis Hopkinson and Gaz Ritson all going close.

The new midfield pairing of Keann Shaw and Ben White worked well together, breaking the play up and getting the ball out wide. On the quarter-hour, White won the ball and linked up with Shaw, who found Hopkinson and his accurate delivery was volleyed in by Luke Fleetwood at the back post.

Oxenhope continued their dominance until what looked a perfectly-timed challenge by Matty Wilson was viewed differently by the referee, who awarded a penalty.

The spot-kick was brilliantly saved by keeper Nick Hudson, diving full length to his right, but the officials deemed the custodian had moved off his line and ordered a retake. This time Horbury found the net.

Oxenhope pressed again and their efforts were rewarded just before half-time with a second goal, Shaw finding Wilson and his cross was volleyed home again by Fleetwood.

Horbury returned after the break in more determined manner and pressed Oxenhope deeper into their own half, but the defence of Ward, Scott Nelson, Dan Scott and Wilson never really looked like being breached.

As the pitch got heavier, ten minutes from the end Ward slid in and Horbury were awarded a second penalty and the defender received his marching orders.

The spot-kick was confidently converted and the home side now had the momentum. As ten-man Oxenhope tired, they were undone in the final minute when a Horbury winger weaved his way into the box and squared for sub Luke Playford to smash the ball past Hudson.

It was not what Oxenhope deserved after showing real determination and they were left feeling hard done by some of the officials’ decisions. Defeat left them third from bottom in the relegation zone.

On Saturday they host Silsden Reserves in the semi-final of the Keighley Challenge Cup (1.30pm).

Oxenhope: Hudson, Ward, Wilson, Nelson, Scott, White (Williamson), Shaw (Pepper), Hopkinson, Gallagher (Murphy), Fleetwood, Ritson.

* Oxenhope Reserves' West Yorkshire League Trophy tie at Fields was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. They will try again this evening (7.30pm).