Rawdon OB.....2

OTLEY TOWN.....4

OTLEY Town had to work hard for this victory over their local rivals who are in a real dog fight to avoid relegation. The major plus for Town in an incident packed game was their calmness under pressure and the way in which they fought back having gone two goals down inside the first 15 minutes.

Town's early defending was awful but when they did settle former Old Boys player Gareth Reynolds took control and the back four gradually grew in stature to comfortably contain any further Rawdon attacks.

The first goal came on seven minutes with a free header courtesy of no Town defender being anywhere in sight except for 'keeper Andy Pickering but he had no chance.

The second, on 15 minutes, saw hands up appealing for off-side but it was not given.

Things took a turn for the better from hereon in and James Firth pulled one back on 20 minutes when a back pass left the Rawdon 'keeper in no man's land and Town's leading scorer made no mistake from an awkward angle.

Several more attacking forays were thwarted, more by the ball running away down the slope than Rawdon's defence.

However, when Town were awarded a free-kick on the half hour Carl Kernick's well placed effort deceived the home 'keeper who could only parry the ball against the upright and into the net.

In the second-half Town had most things their own way and soon took the lead courtesy of a Joe Lunn penalty when a typical Lee Grice run was halted.

Lunn rifled his shot home but had to have two attempts at his next effort when another clumsy challenge on Grice earned a second penalty a few minutes later.

Rawdon then had a man dismissed before a superb through ball from Reynolds saw Grice denied by some good goalkeeping.

The home 'keeper was a bit uncertain at times but from distance could have benefitted from a little more encouragement from his team mates.

Town should have increased their lead but it was not to be as Rawdon, beaten as they were, battled to the end to deny Town a wider margin.

l Town's first team are without a game on Saturday but the following Saturday visit Lower Hopton.

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