West Yorkshire League Alliance Division One: Shelley Reserves 6 Oxenhope Rec Reserves 4

OXENHOPE’S second string lost a ten-goal thriller but gave joint-leaders Shelley a scare with a stirring comeback.

The visitors started poorly and the hosts took advantage, opening their account after ten minutes when a striker unmarked on the edge of the box placed his shot in the top corner.

Minutes later they doubled their advantage with a chip over keeper Stu Devlin after a through ball.

Oxenhope were restricted to counter-attacks, Jason McGee breaking through the defence, only to slot the ball an inch wide of the post.

On the half-hour mark, a Shelley defender won the ball on the edge of his own box and was allowed to carry the ball 60 yards without a challenge before he played a striker in to fire home into the top corner to make it 3-0.

Five minutes later the home side went four up with a tap-in and soon it became five after a striker turned his marker.

Changes were made at the break and Oxenhope got into the match as three goals in five minutes changed the game.

Rec man of the match Will Lee forced his way into the box and beat the keeper. From the restart, young Matt Hardy won the ball and found Lee, who beat his marker and set up Connor Pepper to score in the bottom corner.

Minutes later Owen Williamson played the ball into Liam McNicol, who side-stepped his man and threaded the ball between defender and keeper into the net.

Williamson had a good shout for a penalty denied before, with ten minutes left, a free-kick from 20 yards out was curled into the net by Danny Driver to make it 5-4.

McNicol picked his way through a crowded defence and beat the keeper, only to see the ball strike the upright.

The visitors threw everything they had to find the equaliser but were caught on the break and Shelley made the points safe.

On Saturday Oxenhope travel to Robin Hood Reserves (2.30pm).