Kirk Deighton 3

Oxenhope 4

OXENHOPE dented Kirk Deighton’s promotion ambitions when coming out on top of this seven-goal thriller in West Yorkshire League Division One.

Earlier in the season the home side had handed out Oxenhope’s heaviest defeat, so with home advantage and sitting five places above their opponents in the league, they probably believed that they could collect three more vital points in their push for promotion.

It looked good at first for Kirk Deighton as they provided the early pressure and grabbed the opening goal after 20 minutes from a hard-hit corner that was met with a bullet header.

Soon after Oxenhope drew level, a Deighton defender’s error was seized upon by Lee Reilly, who dispatched the ball into the top corner.

A minute later Reilly was on the scoresheet again, put through by Tom Marshall, he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home from an impossible angle.

Oxenhope went further ahead on the stroke of half-time, Marshall jinked his way through the defence only to be brought down by the keeper. The resultant penalty saw Dan Moriarty strike the post but Scott Nelson managed to control a difficult rebound and then fired into the top corner.

After the break Deighton pressed hard to get back into the game but the tireless Nelson continued to cause trouble for the home defence, often isolated on his own up front.

He got his just reward when put through and displaying a deft touch he cleverly chipped the advancing keeper to make it 4-1.

The hosts threw on all their substitutes as they pushed forwards in an attempt to salvage some pride from the game and were rewarded with a second goal five minutes from time as the referee evened up the penalty count.

The tiring visitors were now under siege blocking several chances and then from an unstoppable free-kick Deighton notched their third. However, it was too late as the referee brought proceedings to a close immediately upon the restart.

Meanwhile, Oxenhope Reserves secured their place in this season’s Keighley Supplementary Cup Final with a battling 1-0 win at Crosshills Reserves from the Craven League.

The West Yorkshire League side had the best of the opening exchanges Matty Hardy’s floating shot from out wide just drifting past the target, Chris Newman running on to a through ball which the Crosshill’s keeper came out to smother and the speed and trickery of Luke Brooksbank a constant threat throughout the tie.

The hosts came more into the game as the play swung from end to end.

On the half hour the breakthrough came, Oxenhope were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, Luke Fleetwood rifled his shot towards the goal, the Crosshills’ keeper was deceived by the flight as it went through his hands and into the net.

The home side drove forwards in search of the equaliser but Oxenhope’s back four of Tom Duffin, Leon Drake, Liam Fothergill and Fleetwood held the line.

Early in the second half Oxenhope thought they had a second but the referee deemed the keeper had held the ball from crossing the line.

The game again went from end to end, the visitors having the majority of the play but Crosshills always dangerous on the break with Oxenhope keeper Jack Fairlee dealing confidently with all the shots that came his way.

Fleetwood nearly bagged a second but this time his free kick rattled the home side’s crossbar and James Ley saw his powerful header blocked on the line.

Oxenhope had to see out a nervy last few minutes as Crosshills mounted a final push in their search for the equaliser with Oxenhope skipper Duffin putting in a last-ditch tackle to deny them.