Burley looking to share title

Burley Under-12s needed to win this match to give themselves a chance of being outright winners of the division. The first chance of the game fell to Skipton, Jonathan Woolley diving to his right to push the ball wide. Jim Schofield pressurised the Skipton 'keeper into an error, the ball falling to Adam Rhodes who was unlucky to strike the ball over the unguarded goal.

Some excellent work on the left flank by Dave Healey also opened up the Skipton goal but the usually impeccable Tom Higman was also high with his shot. Burley were to rue those missed chances. Jonathan Woolley saved superbly from a looping long-range shot but, within seconds, the Skipton number three struck an unsaveable shot from outside the area high into the left-hand corner of the net. Skipton piled on the pressure and followed up with a well-taken headed goal direct from a corner.

Half-time, as so often happens, saw a change of dominance. Almost all the chances were now created by Burley, Rhodes shooting narrowly wide after a corner and then, after good build-up play from Healey, aiming a shot straight at the 'keeper. Higman began to control the entire midfield and had a number of long-range efforts which were all competently dealt with by the Skipton 'keeper. Healey and Luke Nicholas combined well, Rhodes again unlucky to hit a left-footed shot wide of the post. Sandy Beeson fired in an excellent angled shot that brought the best from the Skipton 'keeper who seemed to be growing in confidence as the pressure grew.

Healey saw a header saved and Graham Parker also tested the 'keeper from long range. When Higman missed with a long lob, it seemed Burley would never score. Suddenly, Nicholas broke clear and fired in a powerful shot right over the 'keeper's head to give them a life-line. Burley had barely a couple of minutes left to attempt to grab the equaliser and again piled on the pressure. The final whistle went just as Burley had earned themselves another corner.

Laurie Swan distinguished himself once again in defence, ably supported by George Wright and Ben Gardiner. Tom Higman was Man-of -the-Match. The result left Skipton top of the table, but with Burley needing to win their remaining two fixtures to share top position.

Burley U-12s................4 Earby................2

Burley remained on course for a share of the division championship after a difficult encounter with Earby who, until this result, were also contemplating promotion. Burley must now win their one remaining fixture against Crossroads. Burley dominated the early exchanges without ever looking entirely convincing, perhaps missing the influence of midfield general Tom Higman who was absent through illness.

The nearest to an early goal came when a Burley cross led to an Earby defender heading against his own bar. Laurie Swan fired in a cross from just inside the Earby half which deceived the Earby defence and was only just cleared by the 'keeper for a corner. As the pressure mounted, Dave Healey seized upon an opening to crash in a short-range shot for the first goal. Burley looked to be very comfortable when Healey gathered a useful cross to fire in with similar ferocity to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Burley's first serious defensive error allowed Earby's impressive number five to fire in over Jonathan Woolley's head. As Burley supporters began to worry

that the game might slip away, good work from Healey and a neat left-footed shot from Adam Rhodes made all the difference. Moments later the same combination conspired to allow Rhodes a tight angle shot to settle the match. In the final seconds of the game, Skipton nabbed a consolation goal, again scored by their number five - but it was too little, too late. Dave Healey was rightly nominated Man-of-the-Match.

So, now it is hearts-in-mouths time for Burley as they face tough opponents at Crossroads this weekend to determine whether or not they will share the championship with Skipton.

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