Otley Wharfeside..4

FC Commercial........2

REGULAR readers of this report may wish to sit down before reading. Top v Bottom few could predict what was to follow and the result to shock the football world!

A delayed start led to tension building on the field as both sides warmed up waiting for the kick-off. The delay was caused by the referee who decided he didn't want to witness history and failed to attend leaving one of the Commercial players to officiate. However, this was still to be a league match.

Wharfeside began at a frantic pace incorporating intricate passing and a non-stop work ethic that the manager had strived for all season. The whole team pulled together and created the first chances but failed to produce a goal. Commercial, a strong counter-attacking side, put the Wharfeside defence under little pressure and the back four of Raw, Glover, Brear and Irwin handled themselves well and held it together, containing a side which had put eight past Wharfeside last time they met.

FC Commercial then drew first blood with a penalty after a desperation tackle that needed to be attempted. Despite 'keeper Craig Wilkinson's best efforts it was converted and on another day Otley may have crumbled but after much inspiring from both the touchline and a number of players Otley began to fight back and prove that they could not only hold the league's top club but better them.

Persistence and long spells of possession then paid off when Nick Livadas hit a speculative drive which took a fortunate bounce and deceived the 'keeper. Otley's equaliser was well deserved and that luck that had deserted them all season seems to have arrived.

At half-time optimism buzzed around the Wharfeside team and then for the first time ever this optimism became a reality. Otley again came out all guns blazing with Steven Allen giving them problems down the right and Nathan Lunn on the left linking up well with the strikers and fellow midfielders. Inspirational performances from Mathew Collins and captain Andrew Bower in central midfield helped Otley weather any storms and create a number of chances. Wharfeside were rewarded again when the ball was played into a crowded penalty area and it fell again for Livadas to swivel and slot the ball in the bottom corner.

Wharfeside didn't know how to celebrate and went completely mad as they had every right to as over a year's hard work was finally being rewarded. On the hour Allen played a glorious through ball to Livadas who completed his hat-trick with a cheeky chip.

The frantic pace then began to show as players started to cramp and suffer with exhaustion leading to the substitute appearances of the Lees brothers, Richard and John, who gave their all for the Wharfeside effort with good contributions. The fatigue setting in, Commercial pulled back a sloppy goal with ten minutes remaining. Otley were not going to let it be taken from them and fought back in the face of some strong challenges from the rattled visitors.

This earned Otley a free-kick on the edge of the box which was expertly converted by Nathan Lunn. This killed the game and Otley had won their first game and the joy that followed was worth waiting for.

Otley have every right to be very proud of what they achieved to beat a team who had not been beaten all season. It was nearly impossible to pick a Man-of-the- Match as everyone played so well and it was a great team effort. Special mentions must go to the goalkeeper and all defenders who couldn't have played better as well as the central midfield duo Bower and Collins but the Man-of-the-Match was Livadas for scoring the side's first hat-trick with an excellent performance.

l Wharfeside visit Olicanian Academicals on Sunday who are only two places above them in the table and it provides a real chance to move off the bottom. Players meet at 9 am outside the Post Office.