Otley TOWN......3

STUMP CROSS....3

IN perfect conditions Otley Town renewed old rivalries with the team that pipped them for the First Division title last season.

Town started much the better with a controlled display which was the best they have produced so far this season.

They took the lead when Graeme Hutchinson latched on to a long ball and coolly tucked it under the 'keeper for his fourth of the campaign.

The lead was soon doubled when another long ball caused all kinds of problems in the vising defence and Lee Grice nipped in to drive the ball home.

Town continued to dominate and played some delightful football. They received a blow just before the break when a succession of well-taken near post corners saw the ball flicked on for a midfield player to nod home.

Following the break Town continued to play some good flowing football but they were caught on the break with men committed forward for a corner.

As a result when the ball was crossed in 'keeper Taylor was wong-footed by a mis-hit shot.

At this point a double substitution took place with Kernick and Firth replacing the injured Grice and the tiring Emsley.

Almost immediately this move paid off when Kernick cut in and drove the ball into the area where Langhorn gleefully rammed the ball home.

Soom after Firth beat three men as he worked his way into the box but unfortunately his well struck shot was straight at the 'keeper.

The home side continued to press with Langhorn and Kernick pulling the strings in midfield but they were unable to get the breathing space a fourth goal would bring.

The equaliser was a scrappy affair with the Town defence having several opportunities to clear and when the ball fell to the attacking side it was superbly volleyed into the net.

Town then began to tire and they came under severe pressure in the last ten minutes and only survived thanks to a superb last ditch tackle by North and a clearance off the line by Baron ably assisted by his team mates.

On the day Langhorn had his best game of the season so far. Ben Hawley in a more advanced midfield role continued his run as the most consistent player and Hutchinson up front continued his rich vein of goalscoring form.

Over the 90 minutes this was a fair result which leaves Town still searching for their first win of the season.

With each game they are coming to terms with the Premier League and surely it is just a matter of time before that elusive win comes.

Under-14s

start campaign

Otley Town Under 14's began the build up to their league season in the Morley 11-a-side tournament last weekend. The Tournament format consisted of six games of seven minutes each half.

Otley were missing several key players due to holidays, and having recently lost their permanent goalkeeper, struggled against good opposition However, an outstanding performance by Stuart Ives as stand-in 'keeper for most of the games, kept Otley in many of the games.

Otley now look forward to the start of the season in the Harrogate B division, but are still seeking new players to strengthen the squad, and especially the position of goalkeeper.

Training takes place on Wednesday evenings, either in Wharfemeadows Park or at Prince Henry's Sports Hall. Anyone interested in trials for the U-14's should contact Cyril Long on 01943-467648 or Steve Norfolk on 01943-461869.

Town U-14s..............2

Pannal Sports.........3

In a thrilling end-to-end match Otley Town were unlucky to come out second best against Pannal Sports.

The match started with a spell of 25 minutes where Town were dominated on a downhill sloping pitch, and pressured by the Pannal forwards conceded two goals by half-time.

Then against the run of play Town went 3-0 behind early

in the second-half There was a quick reply by Matthew Jones to make the score line 3-1. Otley continued to penetrate the Pannal defence and thanks to good supply from mid-field Matt Jones was able to slot another past the 'keeper.

Otley dominated the second-half and defended well against the breaks.

Many other chances by Otley were unlucky not to find the Pannal net. A well-taken corner from Danny Fahy saw a spectacular header from new signing James Kirk narrowly headed over by a Pannal defender with minutes to go.

A spirited performance was not rewarded by the result Otley badly needed, nevertheless Otley will take heart and build confidence from this result.

Otley play Killinghall Nomads in the Cup at home on Sunday. Team meet at 10am at Wharfemeadows.

Otley U-10s A........5

Burley U-10s A......1

This was a fine start to the season for the new-look OtleyUnder-10s side, who won after eventually wearing down a Burley side full of good spirit.

Otley certainly started the brighter but in the latter stages of the half Burley came back into it. Only one goal separated the sides at half-time.

A great left-wing run by Matthew McGlinchey, who slipped several defenders, then squared the ball to the well-placed Murray Simm in front of goal who applied the

necessary finish.

In the second-half both sides had chances to score before McGlinchey fired in a rapid hat-trick to kill off the visitors. He also had a hand in a goal from the tireless James Dalby.

Burley got the least they deserved with a goal near the end. Good performances all round from the home side, not least from defenders, Matthew Waring and Adam Walker.

Otley U-10s A...............3

Dewsbury Rangers A...0

A hat-trick from Michael Beecroft topped a second win of the season for the Under-10s. His pace was always a concern for a visiting team who had their own fair share of possession but couldn't quite find a finish to their approach play.

Beecroft was well supported by Murray Simm up front and it was his pass that paved the way for the opening goal.

Dewsbury found it hard to break through the defensive partnership of Matthew Waring and Adam Walker, who both had fine displays. When they did work a chance, the safe handling of Simon Harris in goal prevented any opportunity.

In midfield, the subtle skills of Jack Wood and the industry of Jimmy Garner Currie maintained an upbeat performance throughout the game and Louis Christoforou also played his part when he entered the fray before half-time.

In the end, it was the power and accuracy of Beecroft's finishing that was the main difference between the two sides.

Otley U-10s B....3

Dewsbury B......2

For a number of boys, this was their first game of the season. In another highly entertaining match, the home side won a close encounter, though the result was always in doubt until the final whistle.

Otley were quickly into their stride, a sound base in defence between Chris Baker and Callum Shaw proving important. Both boys matching good positional sense with equally constructive distribution. A goal mid-way through the half by Sean Brotherton set up a good performance thereafter.

Otley finished the half on top, Lloyd Almond and James Dalby working hard in midfield, with David Smith linking well with Brotherton in attack.

In the second-half, the visitors equalised, when a long range effort flew in off the head of the unfortunate Shaw.

To make amends, the home side went down the other end and Almond finished off a move created by the surging run of Dalby. Smith added a great third, before Dewsbury pulled one back with a drive from distance. It was not enough however, to deny the home side a win.

Burley..............2

Trawden...........1

Newly promoted to the premier division, Burley anticipated their first league encounter of the season against Trawden (unbeaten last year) with some trepidation. The first half flattered to deceive, with Burley creating the more telling opportunities and their defence (including George Wright, Ben Gardiner and Danny Holden) coping well with the occasional flurry from Trawden. Laurie Swan forced a good save from the excellent Trawden 'keeper with a long-range effort, and Jim Schofield heavily involved in the game with a supply of crosses and a shot or two of his own. Phil Buckley, who seemed ever-present during the half, had a shot well-saved. Late in the half, he sent a fifty-yard pass out to the right, Schofield passed inside to Lee Jackson, who crossed into the area. Somehow, Buckley was on the end of the move to volley first-time past the 'keeper. Burley had been comfortably dominant and showing remarkable cohesion so early in the season, with both defences looking solid.

The second half told a different story. Trawden opened with an excellent chance that went narrowly wide. Jonathan Woolley pulled off a diving save moments later to preserve Burley's lead. Then began a remarkable series of attacks and counter-attacks that epitomise the end-to-end game. First Burley swept upfield, only for Adam Rhodes to have his shot blocked. Seconds later, the Burley defence were blocking, the ball squeezing over the bar for a corner. Tom Higman enjoyed a purple patch with three or four attempts at goal, each one matched by Trawden, forcing a corner when Woolley couldn't hold onto a through ball, just clearing the bar, then clipping the top of the cross-bar with the Burley defence static. A Trawden equaliser seemed inevitable when David Healey, who had a busy game, broke down the left, whipped over a cross and Rhodes headed over the 'keeper for Burley's second.

With fifteen minutes remaining, the game was certainly not settled for,

within five minutes, Trawden pulled one back with a powerful break through the middle, Woolley being given no chance when the ball was blasted past him. Substitute Joe Paget put Rhodes clear on goal but he shot too early and the 'keeper was able to cover. Moments later, following the pattern of the half,Trawden were creating a threatening opportunity at the other end.

Burley were relieved to hear the final whistle, Trawden finishing the more strongly. With a two week break before their next league fixture, Burley will be looking to build on this promising start to the new season.

Man of the Match: Tom Higman