Otley Town......0

Hemsworth......3

Otley Town entertained Hemsworth in one of their re-arranged bad weather games. With players unavailable or injured, they must have wished for more bad weather.

With a team at less than full strength, Town struggled against the visitors. Richard Langhorn was the liveliest in front of goal in the first-half, going close on a couple of occasions, only to be denied by the Hemsworth 'keeper.

Hemsworth took a two goal lead at half-time and never looked like losing the game, eventually winning the game 3-0.

Town gave a good account of themselves against a solid, hard working side. With injuries and holidays for five regular first team players, youngsters Ross Hutchinson, Matty Budden, Duncan McCarthy and new signing from Bradford Park Avenue Damien Lee, all came into the Town side.

Town started brightly and a super move down Town's left inside the first five minutes nearly produced an opening goal when Ross Hutchinson was at full stretch at the back post only for his effort to go wide of the post. Straight away the Hemsworth number nine found himself with a great chance inside Town's box but he too shot wide.

On 12 minutes another good passing move involving Lunn, Langhorn and Hutchinson left James Firth with a clear chance but he too put it wide. It was turning into a great game with numerous chances being created at either end.

On 28 minutes a Hemsworth player turned in Town's box and fell over when he'd lost control of the ball but to Otley's amazement the referee gave a penalty to put Hemsworth 1-0 up. Two minutes later a stray pass enabled the big Hemsworth centre-back a chance to strike the ball into Town's half and the quick forward outpaced everybody and calmly scored his side's second. Amazing when you find yourselves 2-0 down after starting so well. There was no more score and the half-time whistle blew.

Again the first 20 minutes of the second-half Town dominated play but without really troubling the excellent Hemsworth 'keeper. The play from Otley's youngsters was really good up to and around the box but they couldn't finish off the moves. On 75 minutes a free-kick into Town's area left Hemsworth's number nine a free header to score their third goal. Town's 'keeper Taylor should have had a bigger say in that to help out his defenders.

For the remainder of the game Hemsworth dictated play and kept the ball well. With a few tired legs and being a bit disheartened after a lot of good effort Town's players knew they'd given a good Hemsworth side a run but at the moment goals are hard to come by. Hopefully new signing Damien Lee, a prolific goalscorer when he settles in, could remedy that situation, but all the players can take heart from some aspects of this game.

l On Saturday Otley Town entertain Marsden. Kick-off 2.30pm.

Otley Town Res..............3

Northallerton Res..........2

(after extra-time)

Town Reserves were determined not to let go of the Harrogate League Senior Cup they won so magnificently last season but Northallerton Town gave them the fright of their lives in this first round game.

Town eventually won the game in extra-time.

Northallerton started brighter and were rewarded after ten minutes when

poor defending allowed one of their strikers to nip in and score. Town never really got their game going and they did not deserve to draw level just before half-time, when a poor clearance by the Northallerton 'keeper landed at the feet of Dominic Blair some 22 yards from goal and his exquisite chip shot left the 'keeper flapping at thin air.

A half-time roasting by Town's Manager resulted in a much more determined second-half showing but still they found it difficult to find a way through the Northallerton defence and when they did, they found their 'keeper in outstanding form.

At full time the score remained 1-1 and the game went into extra-time.

Both sides had put in a tremendous amount of effort during the 90 minutes and tiredness in the players' legs began to show and the chances to score became more frequent.

It was Town who were applying most of the pressure but Northallerton were always dangerous on the counter-attack, although as the game progressed, Gilmartin at the heart of the Town defence got stronger and stronger.

In the second period of extra-time Town took the lead again, when a cross from Emsley found Ryan at the far post and his header left the 'keeper no chance. Within a few minutes Northallerton equalised and it looked as if the only way to seperate the sides was with the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

The game was decided by a piece of pure quality when a cross from the right was acrobatically met by Blair and his overhead bicycle kick flew towards the Northallerton goal. The ball appeared to hit the roof of the net and rebound out and whilst players of both sides debated if the ball did or did not cross the line, Sean McMurough was on hand to slam the ball into the net to leave the referee with an easier decision. Northallerton threw everything at Town in the last few minutes, including their 'keeper making a Schmeichel-like appearance in the opposite penalty area for a corner but Town just held on.

l Town's reward for winning this game, is a fixture against local rivals Pool in the next round in two weeks time. Ironically Town Reserves play at Pool this week in the league, players meet at 1.30pm for a 2.30 kick-off.

l Otley Town A entertain Harlow Hill Reserves. Kick-off 2.30pm.

Otley Town U-14s..........1

Stansfield Rovers..........1

Otley Under-14s were up for settling an old score when they met Stansfield Rovers for the second time in three weeks having lost the first game 4-0.

The first-half saw hard battling in midfield and very few chances apart from a Stansfield corner which closely skimmed the bar and then hit the far upright only to be denied by quick the quick thinking Otley defenders.

Ten minutes into the second-half, still with no score, the Stansfield left winger was given space and allowed a blistering shot on goal which Matt Roundell had no chance of saving.

Not to be denied Otley quickly replied, and within two minutes a typical Matt Jones sniffed chance slipped in through the 'keeper's legs at close range.

The battle continued but no further score ensued and Stansfield, currently

second placed, must have thought themselves lucky after several more chances by Otley missed the target in the last ten minutes including their own chance denied off the woodwork to match Stansfield's.

Man-of-the-Match for Otley was a very difficult decision as all players had contibuted well but it was shared by Luke Potusynskyj for his excellent work and combination with the other Otley forwards and Ryan McMurray in the Otley mid-field for his excellent distribution through to the forwards.

l Otley Under-14's play Cookridge Albion on Sunday away. Times to be advised, please ring Steve Norfolk for details on 01943-461869.