West Riding County Challenge Cup First Round

Ryburn United 2 Oxenhope 5

HOLDERS Oxenhope began their quest to retain their trophy with an impressive win at their Halifax League Premier Division opponents.

The five goals were a bonus as the visitors had their two main strikers missing due to injury and suspension.

Ryburn, who were league champions two seasons ago and only missed out on a second consecutive title last season on goal difference, started confidently. Ten minutes in they found themselves a goal down when a long ball out of defence was run onto by Leon Smith, whose pace took him round the keeper and he finished with a simple tap-in.

Oxenhope doubled their advantage when Chris Day forced a hasty pass back which wrong-footed the keeper and the ball rolled over the line.

Five minutes before the break, however, Ryburn gave themselves hope when they hit Oxenhope on the counter-attack with a long ball and some sloppy defending helped them reduce the arrears.

In the second half Oxenhope got back on top with their central midfield trio of Sean Quinlan, Will Lee and young Lewis Hopkinson dominating. On the hour a Quinlan free-kick was played back to Ollie Metcalfe, who threaded the ball through a packed area to Tom Marshall. He stroked the ball across goal for Liam McNicol to force home. Minutes later a Smith cross to the far post was headed in by man of the match Hopkinson.

Ryburn were reduced to ten men when they had a player sent off for a second bookable offence, only for Oxenhope to also lose a player when central defender Josh Kaine had to leave the field with a back injury following a collision with his own keeper Sam Lee, all three substitutes having been used. Ryburn scored a freak second goal when a long ball from out wide looped into the net at the far post.

Marshall had a great opportunity to restore the three-goal cushion but fired wide with an open target at his mercy. He redeemed himself when Quinlan threaded him in and he smashed home from the edge of the box.

In the next round the holders will travel to Warley Town, another Halifax League Premier Division side. This Saturday (2.30pm) Oxenhope face a stern test as they entertain Beeston, who are third in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division, while the reserves travel to Otley Town (2.30pm).

Oxenhope: Lee S, Nelson (Wells), McNicol (Cox), Lee W, Metcalfe, Kaine, Smith, Quinlan, Day (Fox), Hopkinson, Marshall.