Oxenhope 2 Rothwell 0

OXENHOPE continued their climb up the West Yorkshire Division One table with a deserved victory over Rothwell.

The home side started the stronger and following neat build-up play skipper Joe Jalil shot just wide of the target.

Lee Reilly was the next to try his luck with an angled shot across the face of goal.

At the other end, goalkeeper Steve Davies pulled off a superb save to push a fierce drive around the post.

On 20 minutes the deadlock was broken. From out wide, James Bailey produced a superbly-flighted long raking cross to the far post where Reilly was on hand to head the ball home.

Rothwell upped their game but Oxenhope's back four held strong with Dan Scott in outstanding form at the heart of the defence.

Oxenhope regained control, a Dan Moriarty free-kick was headed just over by Luke Scott. Bailey and Danny Makinson then set up Reilly but this time his strike narrowly missed the target.

The speed of Tom Marshall was a constant threat down the left flank creating problems for the visitors' defence and just before the break he delivered another searching cross that found Reilly but his shot was beaten out.

After the break, Rothwell started the brighter but the home defence marshalled by the experienced Mark Bentham snuffed out all their attempts, gradually the home side started to impose themselves once again but could not find that elusive second goal that their efforts deserved as they remained camped in the visitors' half.

Rothwell, though, were always dangerous on the break and Davies had to be alert when the visitors' striker burst through and bearing down on goal, the custodian was quickly off his line to make a brave save.

On 70 minutes, Oxenhope gained the second goal they deserved, Jalil latching on to a weak back pass, he took the ball into the area, drew the keeper before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Rothwell continued to chase the game but the home side now passed the ball with confidence.

Meanwhile, Oxenhope's second string comfortably navigated their way through to the last four of the Keighley Supplementary Cup with a 4-1 victory at Broomhill.

Macauley Smith bagging a brace alongside goals from Luke Fleetwood and Luke Brooksbank.