West Yorkshire League Premier Division: Oxenhope Rec 1 Headingley 4

OXENHOPE remain in the relegation zone following this heavy defeat.

The first half hour was end-to-end, the home side's best chance coming when Luke Fleetwood's strike was blocked by the keeper, who then made another excellent save from Chris Day following the rebound. At the other end the visitors rattled the Oxenhope woodwork.

On 35 minutes Headingley took the lead when a cross to the far post was headed in off the underside of the bar.

Just before the break centre back Dan Scott was caught in possession and the Headingley striker rounded stand-in keeper Steve Davies to double the advantage.

The home side came out in determined mood at the start of the second half and had a glorious chance to reduce the arrears.

Owen Williamson drove down the left, rolled the ball into the path of Joel Gallagher, who took it to the bye line before crossing to Scott Nelson. However, with the goal at his mercy he headed agonisingly over.

Oxenhope keeper Davies then produced a top-drawer double save, blocking a close-in strike and then diving full length across his line to finger-tip away the follow-up.

The visitors were then awarded a soft penalty which was dispatched to go 3-1 up before Oxenhope pulled one back when Keann Shaw curled in a corner from the left, Joel Gallagher flicked it on and Day finished with a left-foot volley.

However, Headingley caught Oxenhope on the break to score their fourth late on. With games now running out, Oxenhope will need to gain a result on Saturday when they entertain Sherburn at the Recreation Ground (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Davies, Fleetwood, Williamson, Chapman, Scott, White, Shaw (Bailey), Hardy, Day, Nelson, Gallagher (Pullan).

Alliance Division One: Hunslet Reserves 3 Oxenhope Rec Reserves 4

Oxenhope got back to winning ways with a deserved victory in a seven-goal thriller at Hunslet to climb three places.

The game proved to be more like a title decider than a mid-table clash. Rec drew first blood midway through the first period, Luke Snowden crossing a diagonal ball across the box for Sam Murphy to take a touch before firing home.

The visitors' joy was short-lived as Hunslet drew level minutes later with a though-ball that was lobbed into the net. Ten minutes before the break Hunslet took the lead when a perfect cross provided a home striker with a simple tap-in following a counter-attack.

Back came Oxenhope as Jason McGee cut inside his marker and produced a defence-splitting 20-yard pass for Murphy to run on to and drill in his second.

The visitors confidently took to the field in the second half and within minutes regained the lead. McGee broke into the box and crossed for Murphy to complete his hat-trick with a firm header.

Oxenhope were now on top and pressed Hunslet back into their own half but on 80 minutes the home side broke down field and grabbed the equaliser. Both sides went for victory in the dying minutes and it was Oxenhope who triumphed, McGee playing a series of one-twos with Murphy before slotting home the winner.

Oxenhope Rec Reserves 1 Huddersfield Amateurs Reserves 1

The home side had the better of the first half in Monday night's clash, with the Huddersfield keeper pulling off a superb double save, first from Jason McGee and then Sam Murphy.

Oxenhope continued to dominate after the break but on the hour a mistake in midfield allowed Huddersfield to break away and score.

The home side pressed for the equaliser but the visitors' goal led a charmed life, with shots being blocked or cleared off the line.

But on 80 minutes the pressure told. A corner swung in from the right was headed in by Dan Scott.

The fixture is reversed on Saturday.