Tockwith 2

Addingham 5

Addingham kept pace with the leaders following this comfortable victory over struggling Tockwith. What was a stroll developed into a very aggressive game as the home side having been 2-0 down pulled back to 2-2 and with it developed a wholly different attitude.

Addingham welcomed back Mills and Tim Marriot who took their places in a back four with Ridley unavailable through illness and Galasso absent with a foot injury.

The very large flat pitch may well have been the near perfect playing surface but the strong wind from end to end was difficult to overcome. With the wind blowing toward them Addingham started brightly keeping the ball on the ground and passing neatly through midfield. On 15 minutes Wells' pass found Si Collins in space and his accurate through ball found Barrow who outstripped his marker and beat the 'keeper with a fierce low strike at the near post.

Ten minutes later Addingham made it 2-0, a lovely move down the right involving Palmer, Perkins and Smithson, saw the latter chip forward to Barrow. He drilled the ball across the face of the goal and Si Collins arrived right on cue to tap home at the far post.

Second-half Tockwith swapped the centre-forward and centre-half round with instant effect. A long ball was held up by the swirling wind and the makeshift striker hit it first time from 20 yards.

The ball swerved dramatically as it flew into the top corner. Tockwith were visibly buoyed by this and they pressed for an equaliser but any threat was capably dealt with by Addingham until the referee awarded Tockwith a bizarre penalty.

The pedantic official had done his best so far to spoil the game by halting play for every infringement no matter how trivial but the award of a spot kick for holding by Paul Marriot when he was clearly being backed into was mystifying. Brother Tim was booked for his part in the protest that followed but Walker made no mistake as Tockwith restored parity.

With the scores level the home side began to change, albeit aside from a ten minute spell they had been outplayed but now they thought they could mix it and the game became a much more physical battle.

The renewed intensity suited Addingham and they upped the tempo dramatically, Perkins missed a great chance but the lead was soon restored.

Following a succession of free-kicks on the edge of the box Barrow played the ball short and when the pass was flicked to Smithson he made no mistake from six yards out.

Addingham were flying now and another good move involving Kernick and Collins saw Paul Marriot break down the left, he played in Barrow who drew the 'keeper before firing low into the net.

Tockwith's mini revival was halted as Addingham were firmly back in control.

With ten minutes left Addingham broke again, the ball came out to Kernick who showed wonderful technique from 20 yards out, he hit a stunning volley that left the 'keeper grasping at thin air. The ball smacked the bar and came out to Smithson who smashed it home with an equally impressive scissor kick volley.

With time running out Tockwith's frustration began to boil over and things became a touch unsavoury, in particular one incident when the spectators on the far side threw objects onto the field, something the referee fortunately for them did not see.

l This Saturday Addingham are in the first of two cup semi-finals when they take on Clifford and Braham in the Alverton Trophy. The game at Addingham kicks of at 2-30 pm and all players should meet at the pitch at 1-15pm.