OTLEY TOWN....3

FARNLEY..........2

THIS was not one of the best games seen at the Old Showfield bit it did not matter. What did matter was the outcome and that gave satisfaction with Town gaining their first win since February 26 and with Hall Green losing twice within the week it put Town back in second place in Division One of the Mumtaz West Riding County Amateur League.

The first-half was scoreless but heaven knows how. Town did everything but get the ball in the net as Farnley defended deep and obviously hoped to hit Town on the break.

Several promising moves went unrewarded with the Farnley 'keeper on form making good saves from Tom Dixon, James Firth, Joe Lunn and Carl Kernick. It was a frustrating 45 minutes for Town but they must have thought that it was only going to be a matter of time before the bottom placed club's resistance broke. When it did it was most fortuitous with the previously unflappable 'keeper letting Joe Lunn's rocket shot slip through his hands and Firth was there to bundle the ball home.

Earlier a fine run from Carl Kernick had ended with Dixon volleying wide and Kernick hit a post with a rasping volley.

The second goal was another strange affair as a defender dithered and when he turned ten yards from his own goal he found Firth literally tackling the ball into the net.

The home side were not complaining though because Lady Luck has deserted them of late.

On 70 minutes Farnley pulled a goal back when Rob Crowe rose majestically to head home. Firth headed over before a free-kick dropped kindly for Kernick who hit home his seventh of the season.

Lee Grice went close when set up by Gareth Reynolds but Farnley replied and a clumsy challenge gave them a lifeline with a penalty in the seventh minute of injury time. Town hearts were left to flutter for a few more minutes before referee Tony Beck finally brought proceedings to a halt.

Town's third team gained a hard-fought win over Harlow Hill Reserves with Paul Conway notching the winner having been set up by the previous week's hat-trick man Sean Yates.

Town however caught the first team's disease with a missed penalty and despite a couple of late scares managed to hold on and keep their promotion hopes, slim as they are, alive.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.