Town struggle with injuries but still hoping for some silverware

Played on a very poor, bumpy pitch with very little grass, Town were defeated 2-1, despite having the better of the game. Andrew Redman was Town's scorer with a well-taken strike after a corner.

Last Saturday saw the first of five games in ten days for Otley, the result of bad weather and postponed matches in January and February, with only one of the final eight fixtures at home.

Midweek fixtures now see Town travel to Halifax twice and Saturday's match is at Huddersfield. With Langhorn's leg in plaster and him out for the rest of the season, and Budden, Boddy and Pearson all carrying injuries, an opportunity exists for several reserves to prove a point for next season.

Town obviously missed the striking ability of Hutchinson and the distribution from Langhorn in midfield in this very scrappy game against a team that is in danger of relegation.

Town had very few chances and it was Marges and Slack, scoring in the first-half, who were the games only scorers for Storthes Hall to deservedly win 2-0.

Otley Town Reserves 8

Pateley Bridge 4

The league games between these two teams have proved quite entertaining for the spectators who have seen 24 goals in two matches. Otley started slowly again but soon got into their stride when Dale Gilmartin opened the scoring with a backheader from a Chris Wain corner.

Dean Wagstaff added another before Wain scored himself. Shaun McMurrough got the fourth from a Johnson pass and Wagstaff scored his second before half-time to make the score 5-0. Otley must have thought that all the hard work had been done and went to sleep in the second-half.

Pateley came back into the game, netting four goals without reply, in quick succession, to make the score 5-4. Town raised their game again to make sure of the game with Anthony Gilmartin scoring a scrambled goal, Chris Wain netting his second and the last goal turned in by a Pateley defender.

Bedale 0

Otley Town Reserves 4

Otley Town Reserves started this game with most players carrying knocks and bruises after four games in eight days and with another three games to be played in ten days, which is now beginning to tell on weary legs.

This tiredness showed up at the beginning of this game, nevertheless Town went into the second-half a goal up when Shaun McMurrough collected a poor clearance from the 'keeper and chipped the ball into the empty net from 30 yards out.

The second-half saw the introduction of Alderson up front and a flowing move saw the striker net with his first touch for the second time in two games.

Wagstaff scored the third after a great ball from Barber and Johnson rounded off the scoring, nutmegging the 'keeper.

Town's strength in the centre of defence with Gilmartin and North was well marshalled by Mark Currie playing as sweeper, which left Richard Hawley free to have a storming game down the right hand side.

This week Town have three remaining games, the first of which was at Wetherby on Tuesday. Saturday sees a trip to Northallerton and their final fixture is at home on Tuesday evening when they entertain Spa Athletic. The championship of the Harrogate and District FA Premier Division is not yet decided and Otley Town still have the opportunity in their own hands.

Pool, beaten by Otley 2-1 last week, were well beaten by Boroughbridge on Saturday 4-0. Mathematically, Boroughbridge and Pool are still in with a shout but both depend on Otley dropping points. They need to win all of their games remaining games, while Otley only need one point when they visit Wetherby on Tuesday, April 23.

A draw, which is unlikely as Wetherby are bottom of the table, will put Otley on 52 points, which should make them champions as they have a better goal difference than the other challengers.

Last Saturday's A team game was called off, as their opponents Bass Social were unable to field a side.

This week the A team are at home to Bramhope, players meet at 2pm.