West Yorkshire League Division One: Altofts 1 Oxenhope Rec 5

OXENHOPE continued their climb up the table with a convincing victory despite missing injured leading goal-scorer Lee Reilly.

The visitors started strongly and dominated the first half, taking the lead on ten minutes when a short corner routine between Dan Moriarty and Danny Driver saw the latter cross for Luke Scott to head in at the far post.

Midway through the first period Tom Marshall collected the ball just over the half way line, beat his marker and put an inch-perfect ball over the top for Moriarty to run onto and lob the advancing keeper.

Soon after came the goal of the game. Defender Lewis Hopkinson played a long ball out to Marshall and he took it to the bye line before squaring it across goal. Moriarty cleverly dummied the ball and Owen Williamson was on hand to stroke the ball into the bottom right corner.

Altofts were reliant on breakaways but Oxenhope's back line of Hopkinson, Dan Scott and Scott Nelson dealt comfortably with any threat.

Just before the break the visitors made it four when Driver's overlap played in Moriarty, who squared the ball to Marshall and he laid a measured pass into Williamson to score his second.

After the break Altofts came more into the game and, on the hour-mark, were rewarded when their central defender pulled one back by heading in a corner.

Oxenhope regained control with man of the match Marshall in outstanding form. The result was put beyond doubt when Moriarty linked up with Williamson and the youngster rifled in his hat-trick.

Keeping a settled team now appears to be paying dividends for Oxenhope and they will hope to maintain their run at Aberford on Saturday (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Devlin, Hopkinson, Scott D, Nelson, Scott L, Quinlan, Driver, Williamson, Potts, Moriarty, Marshall.

* Oxenhope Reserves went down 3-0 at home to Alliance Division One title contenders Leeds City. On Saturday they host Keighley Veterans in a quarter-final tie of the Keighley Supplementary Cup (1.30pm).