Altofts 3

Otley Town 3

WHAT a cracking start these two sides provided to the New Year with this thrilling County Cup-tie. It was end to end stuff which kept a sizeable crowd on their toes at the neat Altofts ground.

Town took the lead after 12 minutes when the home goalkeeper failed to read the 'backspin' on the ball and Lee Grice pounced to smash home for his fifth goal in five games.

To be fair the home side could well have been two up but Andrew Redman's challenge was enough to deny a fast and a second effort went just wide.

Ben Hawley had a rare shot, rare for him that is, tipped over the bar having been put through by fellow full-back Chris Myers.

What these two were doing side by side in the middle of the pitch remains a mystery.

An Altofts free-kick was just tipped over by Aidy Atter and Town replied when Mark Currie set up Graeme Hutchison but his shot was just wide.

On the stroke of half-time came the equaliser. Town were caught square at the back and were made to pay.

Psychologically this was a severe blow for Town but they cancelled it out with an early second-half goal. And what a goal.

James Firth made a typical raking charge from halfway and with everybody waiting for a cross Town's leading goalscorer surprised everybody by shooting in a far post shot.

Atter made good saves from open play and a corner respectively but was helpless as skipper Ian Wolfenden's attempted clearance from a free-kick nestled neatly in the corner of his goal.

It was 2-2 and was luck going with the home side?

No, because four minutes later Hutchison produced as cool a finish as you will see to regain the initiative for Town with 20 minutes of normal time to go.

Town held out and looked quite comfortable until Atter and Wolfenden failed to claim from a free-kick and the home side sneaked in to equalise for a third time.

Atter was quick to make amends, however, with a fine save following a sweeping home move.

Into extra-time and Town's good training turnouts nearly paid dividends.

They had the better of the extra half-hour but could not find the decisive finish to gain a place in the quarter-final.

They had justifiable claims for a penalty when Mark Currie was brought down but the referee thought not.

So it's back to the Old Showfield this Saturday and if the game is half as good anyone who comes to watch will not be disappointed. Kick-off is 1.45pm.

Kirk Deighton 3

Otley Town Res 0

This scoreline flatters Kirk Deighton as Otley Town Reserves put in a good performance in what was a great match to watch.

In the opening period Town took the game to their opponents with Farmery and Budden pulling all the strings in Town's midfeld, time after time some good passing movements were spoiled by the final ball being wasted.

Declan Shilton and Dave O'Halloran, Town's front two, were holding the ball up well with Shilton in particular playing some delightful balls into his team-mates.

Mid-way through the first period Deighton started to show why they are top of the division and started pushing Town back and they had to defend frantically.

A super move down Deighton's right ended with a great cross being headed into Town's net by the Deighton striker.

Dave O'Halloran then had a great strike just clear of the bar and then Chris Stuart hit a screamer from 20 yards that again just missed the target.

With Farmery again pulling the strings for Town another fine cross was met by the head of O'Halloran, the striker beat the Deighton 'keeper and defender to plant the ball into the net, but to Town's disbelief the referee disallowed the goal.

The second-half began and Town played some of their best football keeping possession for long periods and for some 20 minutes Deighton could not get out of their half, but as in the first-half Town could not find the net.

With 20 minutes remaining another dubious decision went against Town when a Kirk Deighton forward fell in the penalty area and the linesman gave a penalty which was scored to make the score 2-0.

With Town now pushing forward chances were made at either end and right on the final whistle Paul Danskin, who had worked tirelessly up and down Town's right all afternoon, failed to clear a punt upfield and the ball ran agonisingly into Town's net.

This was a good performance from Town's Reserves and showed once again that their Reserve side can match anybody in this division as long as they give this sort of commitment each Saturday.

Match Point went to Paul Farmery who covered every inch of the pitch.

Otley Town A 2

Harrogate Railway 3

Railway netted the winner with two minutes to go in this game.

Town A found themselves two goals down at the interval after a half in which they had never got going after the Christmas holiday and a lack of training.

However, the second-half saw Otley pull a goal back in the 65th minute through Rob McGee who coolly fired home at the far post.

Town then levelled in the 85th minute when Carl Kernick's tame shot crept in at the far post when it appeared to be going wide.

Town then conceded the winner in the dying minutes.

Good performances came from Chris Pollard in goal and Steve Petrie at full-back. Match point went to Pollard.

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