Brighouse TOWN....2

Otley TOWN..............1

ANOTHER narrow defeat for Otley Town but, once again, they gave one of the league's high fliers a real shock and this, despite having a much changed side with Ben Hawley and Lee Grice their victims and a further member of the squad failing to appear.

However, this led to Ross Hutchinson being given a start, his brother Graeme is still out with a broken nose, and this at least was a plus with the youngster producing a fine performance in the central midfield area, along with Joe Lun who continues in a rich vein of form.

Paul North was asked to play out of position, just in front of the defence and he, once again, produced another mature display. Indeed the whole side should take heart, as will their followers, because this must surely come if the attitude shown continues.

On a grey day Town took the game to their lofty opponents who, according to a write-up in their local paper "expected an easy three points." James Firth and Richard Langhorn both created early scares for the Brighouse defence and it was a real body blow when on their first attack, Andy Yates, a previous tormentor of Town, when with Campion, drilled home a well struck shot to give the home side the lead.

Their reaction to the goal said it all - this is easy isn't it. What a shock they got when Town unleashed a flowing five man move to equalise almost immediately. Ross Barron, Hutchinson and Lunn figured before the referee played a great advantage to allow Richard Langhorn to set Firth up for the goal.

The home side now knew they were in a game and it developed int a fine, end to end, tussle - well-refereed and played in excellent spirit. Ian Wolfenden and Andrew Redman were given all to do looking after the home pairs 51 goal strike force and they can take credit for keeping them off the goalscorer's list. It will be some time since it happened. Town dug deep under pressure but attacked quickly, and with relish, with Lunn providing the ammunition for Barron, Langhorn and Firth to constantly probe the home defence who were definitely found wanting on occasions but Town could not find that killer touch in front of goal and were to see chances missed when the home side took the lead just before half-time.

A free header was allowed and would have been comfortably dealt with by Ian Taylor, who had a sound game in the Otley goal. Unfortunately an outstretched leg caused a deflection to wrong foot, or wrong leg, everybody.

The second-half opened in very gloomy conditions and despite some foreboding, the game was able to reach its conclusion as the mist rolled in.

The home side had the better of things but some stout defence, and a bit of panic on the home striker's part, prevented any further scoring. Town could also have snatched a point with Langhorn and Firth going close in the last few minutes as they strove hard for what, in some people's mind, would have been a deserved point.

One wonders what the outcome would have been if options had been available on the touchline.

l Town entertain Campion on Saturday, kick-off at 2.15pm, and will be hoping to improve on an early season point gained at the ground in a 1-1 draw.