Otley Wharfeside 3, Milford 3

This league fixture was played as a friendly, when at kick-off time it became clear there was no referee. Lee Travis stepped into the breach to referee his first and last game!

Otley's squad was depleted with Pel Jackson missing and a few players carrying injuries. Wharfeside gave Jake Beadnell his first start for the club with Jamie Birch moving to centre midfield.

Otley were slow to start maybe taking the friendly term to seriously gifting Milford an early goal. Otley began to tighten up and started to get back into it, but it was clear who was higher in the league as Wharfeside were often chasing shadows.

Pullan and Ashley were combining well and always looked dangerous on the break and it was Pullan who level led with a good finish.

Birch and Beadnell played well chasing down everything and played some good football. Dave Penniall made some storming runs down the left and tracked back well. Pete Aneja and Paul Hoey began pulling the Wharfeside defence through as Pinder struggled with injury but still played his part. Wilkinson was reliable and his kicking in such a strong wind was still impeccable. Milford were soon ahead again and based on possession maybe rightly. Ashley smashed the ball against the bar and Birch and Pullan went close.

The second-half saw Wharfeside begin to play good football and with Hoey breaking from defence with some storming runs Wharfeside began to dig in and battle. Penniall soon forced the equaliser finishing well.

The game went back and forth and there were numerous positional changes for both sides. It was Otley who took the lead though when Rich Lees' volley came back to him and he finished the job. Walter Stewart worked hard in the middle with Carl Hughes but it was Ashley and R Lees who played in Penniall numerous times but he was unable to find the net. Milford again equalised after the Otley defence failed to clear.

Manager Joe Whitworth made a cameo appearance replacing John Lees who had a solid game. His wonderful cross saw Ashley almost connect with a flying header but it wasn't to be.

Man-of-the-Match was shared by Jake Beadnell and Jamie Birch. Both sides made this an enjoyable yet competitive game but the re-arranged league fixture will be one to watch. All the players would like to thank Lee Travis for refereeing.

Players will be informed about Sunday's game.