Otley Town Res 1 Burley Trojans 3

Battling Burley Trojans overcame an early scare at champions Otley to overhaul long time leaders Ilkley at the top of the table. Rivals Kirkby Malzeard join them at the summit with an identical record following their comfortable win over mid-table Northallerton.

The Otley pitch survived a late inspection and provided as tricky surface for both sides who, to their credit, tried to play attractive passing football.

Trojans went into the game missing first team regulars Chris Connolly, Jonny Lofthouse and Stuart Copley but their matchwinner was replacement Phil Constantine. The long serving striker has been a revelation this season since stepping down from first team football but proved that he can still cut it at the highest level by scoring one and laying on the other two for Gareth Goodison.

Trojans had not played for four weeks and the ring rustiness showed as they fell behind after five minutes, Dave White beating 'keeper Chris Hargreaves to Dean Wagstaffe's left wing cross to head home.

Trojans' response was swift and the equaliser on ten minutes left the Town defence chasing shadows. Left-back Chris Lockwood picked out Goodison and his instant lay off to Tom McDermott gave the wingman time and space to send a slide rule pass into the path of Constantine who controlled before sending a crisp low finish past the helpless Dan Bradley.

Trojans could have added to their lead with Constantine's shot on the turn lacking power and then midfielder Dave McKain was a whisker away from connecting with McDermott's teasing cross.

Town matched their visitors in terms of possession but were unable to create any real danger to Hargreaves' goal. Constantine continued to give Town's defence a torrid time and had a very plausible penalty appeal turned down by referee Neil Barlow following Terry Pearson's challenge.

The centre-half was extremely fortunate to escape with only a booking shortly afterwards when he hauled Constantine down on the edge of the area as he bore down on goal.

Bradley denied both Goodison and Constantine with a superb diving saves and Stuart Dibb headed over as Trojans began to dominate towards half-time. McDermott spurned a great chance when Constantine picked him out on the far post but he could only direct his effort over Bradley's crossbar.

The question was whether Trojans could maintain their ascendancy after the break and this was answered very emphatically within ten minutes of the re-start.

With the second-half only four minutes old Ian McKain started a flowing right wing move by finding Goodison. The young striker shipped the ball on to Constantine who belied his years by skipping past Mark Currie and his cross found Goodison, who had continued his run, to bundle the ball in at the far post.

Town's appeals that he had used his arm to divert the ball in fell upon deaf ears and cost defender Chris Stuart a booking as he carried his protests too far.

Within five minutes Trojans struck again to give themselves a two goal cushion. Constantine set up Goodison who set off on a left wing run. His ball struck Ian Wolfenden and dropped back into the path of Goodison who sent a superb shot into the corner beyond the despairing Bradley.

Wolfenden's frustration was clear as he lashed out at Goodison but, whilst the referee missed this indiscretion, he was later cautioned for a similar offence on Dave McKain. McDermott also went into Mr Barlow's notebook for a rash challenge as the tackles began to fly in.

Town, with nothing to lose, began to pin Trojans back in their own half and the visitors showed great resilience to repel the threat. This was epitomised by a bone shuddering challenge by substitute Chris Lloyd on Stuart which saw the Town defender limp out of the action.

Man-of-the-Match Constantine, left the field to a great ovation from the small band of Trojans supporters, his afternoon's work done, but there was still some defending for his colleagues, including a world class save from Hargreaves who dived full length to tip over substitute Chris Wain's powerful point- blank effort.

A great start to the New Year for Trojans who, with nine league games remaining, have given themselves a great chance of featuring prominently in the title run in.

l Trojans travel to Bramhope on Saturday for a Senior Cup quarter-final. Players meet at the Cricket Club at 12.30pm.