BURLEY TROJANS.......0

OTLEY TOWN RES........1

BURLEY Trojans slumped to defeat against local rivals Town to throw the premier Division title race wide open. A Stuart Dibb own goal five minutes from time handed Town the points and gave hope to the chasing pair of Kirkby Malzeard and Boroughbridge Reserves.

The result means that matters are no longer in Trojans hands and they must now beat Tockwith on Saturday in their final game and hope that the other slip up along the way. In a strange twist of fate Kirkby Malzeard travel to Boroughbridge on the last day of the season and a draw would see Trojans crowned as champions providing that they win on Saturday.

The home side were rocked by the loss of influential skipper Nick Quaife with a toe injury but despite the return of Chris Lockwood and Jonny Lofthouse from suspension the side were never at their best and were more than matched by a solid Town outfit.

Trojans once again had 'keeper Chris Hargreaves to thank as he made a string of brilliant saves to keep them in the game. In a game of few chances Peter Sumner saw a long range free-kick saved by visiting 'keeper David Kirkpatrick with the rebound being scrambled behind for a corner. Kirkpatrick also saved from Chris Connolly when he rose at the far post to connect with Tom McDermott's deep cross. Hargreaves saved a Sean McMurrough effort low to his left as the visitors threatened.

The second-half continued in the same vein with little to choose between the sides.

The alert Matt Hawnt chased a weak back pass and when Kirkpatrick scuffed his hurried clearance McDermott lofted the ball over the stranded 'keeper but saw his effort drift wide of the far post. Man-of-the-Match Hargreaves saved superbly from centre-forward Graham Hutchinson and had to be at his best to block the ball in the scramble which came from the resulting corner.

With time running out Trojans went in search of the winner and Lofthouse fired just over from 12 yards. Just as Trojans were thinking that a point may not be such a bad result disaster struck.

Town substitute Steve Boddy broke free on the right and his cross was deflected into the path of the unfortunate Dibb and his header looped over Hargreaves and into the net.

It was cruel luck on the young defender who has had a marvellous season since his conversion to centre-half.

Whatever the outcome of the title race it has been an excellent season for Trojans and, one feels that there are more twists yet to come.