West Yorkshire League Division One: Oxenhope Rec 2 Wetherby 5

OXENHOPE got off to a disappointing start in Division One with a home defeat against fellow relegated team Wetherby.

For the first quarter, the home side looked stronger, playing neat, passing football with Will Lee testing the visitors' keeper twice from distance.

Wetherby came more into the game and keeper Stu Devlin was quickly off his line when their striker broke through to save bravely when one-on-one.

A good passing movement saw Tom Marshall’s strike saved by the Wetherby keeper and another Marshall shot went just wide.

Devlin then produced another good save from a fierce Wetherby free-kick on the edge of the box just before the break.

The visitors got the upper hand in the second period, hitting the bar with a rasping strike from distance. Oxenhope hit the woodwork themselves when young Jacob Polignone broke down the right and crossed for Jamie Longley to strike against the post.

Ten minutes after the break Wetherby broke the deadlock when a powerful cross-shot hit the underside of the bar and found the net.

Ten minutes later Wetherby made it two. A corner was swung in from the right to the far post, placed back across goal and headed in.

Oxenhope had a good chance to reduce the arrears but Andy King’s fierce strike hit the post.

On 70 minutes keeper Devlin parried a shot but the ball fell kindly for the Wetherby front man to punish and, minutes later, Oxenhope’s reorganised defence were beaten again to make it four.

A Rec mini-revival followed when James Bailey struck two fine goals, first hitting a stunning volley before Owen Williamson jinked his way past two defenders and crossed for Bailey to hammer home. The hosts sensed they may get something out of the game but, pressing forward, they were caught on the break in the final minutes.

With several players still to come back into the squad from cricket and holiday commitments, Oxenhope will hope to get back to winning ways tomorrow night with a home game against Brighouse before travelling to Boroughbridge on Saturday (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Devlin, Shaw, Wilson, Nelson S, Nelson D (Williamson), Lee (Quinlan), Polignone (Bellamy), King, Longley, Bailey, Marshall.