West Yorkshire League Alliance Division One: Oxenhope Rec Reserves 3 Hunslet Reserves 3

AN ENTERTAINING game on a wet, slippery surface ended with honours even.

The visitors took advantage of the conditions after just five minutes when Oxenhope could not clear their lines and a Hunslet midfielder on the edge of the box drilled the ball through a crowd of players into the top corner.

The home side settled and a James Bailey corner found the head of Paddy Ellison but the keeper saved well.

Joel Gallagher then burst through several tackles and took the ball wide past the keeper but his shot found the side-netting.

On the half-hour the home side levelled when Bailey's inch-perfect cross was met with a stooping header from Danny Driver. The Hunslet keeper then made a double save from Bailey as Oxenhope finished the half on top.

The visitors came out strongly for the second period but ten minutes in were caught on the break. Bailey took the ball down the right and his cross into the box was controlled by Driver, who hit a composed finish past the keeper for his second.

The home side now were in the ascendancy but, on the hour, Hunslet broke away and equalised and minutes later grabbed the lead when their captain lashed home from 20 yards.

Will Lee had a good chance to level but blasted wide as Oxenhope strove for the equaliser.

On 80 minutes the home side’s efforts were rewarded when man of the match Bailey chipped the ball into the Hunslet box. It was cleared but only to Dave Nelson, who drilled the ball into the net. Oxenhope were reduced to ten men when Driver received a second yellow card but they looked the more dangerous, with sub Liam Dyson surging past two defenders but his strike went agonisingly wide.

On Saturday the reserves travel to Kippax Reserves in the second round of the League Trophy (2pm).

Oxenhope's first team did not have a game but next week are scheduled to play at Baildon in the League Cup (2pm).

Oxenhope Rec Res: Driver R, Duffin, Wellard (Fleetwood), Pullan, Ellison, Makinson, Nelson, Lee (Dyson), Gallagher (McGee), Bailey, Driver D.