Trojans on a roll

A week is a long time in football! A poor run without a win, stretching back to October had seen Trojans slide into the danger zone, however with back to back victories in their last two games the Burley side have lifted themselves into seventh spot, leapfrogging neighbours Ilkley in the process.

Trojans were made to battle all the way by a spirited Pannal side, themselves in need of points at the wrong end of the table.

The home side opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a classic route one move. Keeper Chris Hargreaves' massive kick cleared the Pannal defence and the in form Chris Connolly chipped Lee Mitchell with ease.

In time honoured fashion Trojans surrendered their lead within a minute as Hargreaves found himself caught out of position and was comfortably beaten.

Pannal must have believed that they could complete a league double over Trojans as they took a deserved lead, the ball being scrambled home from close range following a corner.

The home side were coming off second best in the midfield exchanges and the visitors' Jimmy Black was pulling all the strings. Trojans did manage to claw their way back into the game before the break from a well worked set piece. When the tricky Jonathan Lofthouse was fouled out on the right Connolly stepped up to curl his left footed free-kick beyond Mitchell's reach to take his season's tally to 13.

The second-half was again evenly poised and it was Trojans who took the initiative with a Stuart Dibb strike on the hour. Lofthouse played a neat one-two with Nick Quaife and from his measured cross Dibb powered a bullet header into the net.

Trojans wrapped things up ten minutes from time when Phil Dodsworth danced his way past two defenders and squared for Lofthouse to fire into the empty net.

Long serving defender Chris Lockwood collected match point for his flawless performance in keeping the Pannal forwards at bay, particularly one last ditch tackle which prevented the visitors from levelling matters in the second-half.

Mention should also be made of player/manager Gary Shankland for his performance alongside Lockwood and some of his distribution was reminiscent of Alan Hansen at his best.

l On Saturday Trojans face the long trek to North Yorkshire to take on league basement club Bedale.

Otley Town A.....1

Trojans Res........4

Trojans Reserves provided the shock of the round in the Supplementary Cup as they crushed their higher division opponents.

Town, currently second in Division Two, were swept aside by their neighbours who turned on the style for their travelling supporters.

Trojans, notoriously slow starters, were almost made to pay as the home side struck a post with their first attack, but the ball bounced to safety.

Midway through the first-half Trojans went ahead when Dave McKain burst through on the right and, from his cross, James Goodison kept his nerve to finish despite the attentions of the 'keeper.

Matt Hawnt had an opportunity to double to advantage within a minute when Gareth Goodison put him clear but the 'keeper smothered his effort.

The Goodison brothers led the Town defence a merry dance all afternoon and the home side were forced to resort to strong arm tactics in desperation.

Gareth Goodison netted his ninth goal of the season shortly after the break. Keeper Richard Lord's huge clearance set Goodison free and he slipped the ball past the advancing 'keeper.

Almost immediately Trojans made it three as Town began to fall apart. The visitors were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and James Goodison stepped up to bend a Beckham-style effort around the wall and into the top corner of the net with the 'keeper rooted to the spot.

The match was over as a contest on the hour as central defender Martin Stockdale netted from close range following a corner.

Town grabbed a very late consolation as Trojans took their foot off the gas, their second round place safely assured.

Skipper Tim Fendyke was awarded match point for his battling performance which provided the springboard for many of Trojans best moves.

l Trojans return to league action on Saturday when they entertain mid-table Harold Styans Reserves, kick off 2.00pm.

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