Otley Town....1 Marsden.....2

ON this season's form, Otley Town went into this League Cup game as underdogs.

Mid-table Marsden must have made the long trip to Otley with confidence but were to find that the Otley boys had gained in confidence from last week's win at Ilkley.

Town took the lead through a deflected shot from Graham Hutchinson after good work from Ross Barron who had beaten three players in one of the few direct runs on goal.

Shortly afterwards, Marsden equalised with another deflection that gave goalkeeper Iain Taylor no chance.

Town then, as in recent weeks, dominated the game, but could not find the net.

The midfield and defence held everything together and Paul North was outstanding.

Hutchinson limped off the pitch just after the break to be replaced with Dean Wagstaff, but the through balls required for the pacey youngster never materialised.

James Firth and Tom Dixon had the best of the chances in the second-half, but the Marsden keeper was rarely tested in that period of the game.

With Town pressing for the winner, a Marsden forward broke away in the dying minutes to score the winner.

This weekend Otley Town entertain Ovenden WR in the County Cup.

Otley Town...3 Stump Cross...3

IN perfect conditions for football Otley Town renewed old rivalries with the team that pipped them for the first division title last season.

Town started much the brighter with a controlled display of passing and movement which was the best they have produced so far this season.

They took the lead when Graeme Hutchinson latched onto a long ball down the middle and cooly tucked it under the advancing 'keeper and into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

The lead was doubled soon after when another long ball caused all sorts of confusion in the visitors defence and Lee Grice nipped in to drive the ball home for his first of the campaign.

Town continued to dominate and play some delightful football into the bargain but received a blow just before half-time when, following a succession of well taken near post corners, the ball was flicked on for an onrushing midfield player to nod the ball into the net.

Following the break Town continued to play some good flowing football.

However, they were caught on the break when, having committed men forward for a corner, the ball was crossed in from the right for the Stump Cross attacker to miss-hit his shot.

In doing so, though, he managed to wrong foot 'keeper Taylor who was obviously expecting a better struck effort.

At this point a double substitution took place with Kernick and Firth replacing the injured Grice and tiring Emsley.

Almost immediately this move paid off when Kernick cut in from the left and drove the ball into the area where Langhorn gleefully rammed the ball home.

Soon after Firth beat three men as he worked his way into the box but unfortunately his well struck shot was straight at the 'keeper.

The home side contined to press with Langhorn and Kernick pulling the strings in midfield but were unable to get the breathing space a fourth goal would bring.

The equaliser was a scrappy affair with the Town defence having several opportunities to clear and when the ball fell to the attacking side it was superbly vollied into the net.

Town now began to tire and came under severe pressure for the last ten minutes and only survived thanks to a superb last ditch tackle by North and a clearance off the line by Barron, ably assisted by his team mates who managed to scramble the ball clear.

Langhorn had his best game of the season so far, Ben Hawley, in a more advanced midfield role, continued his run as the most consistent player so far this season and Hutchinson up front continued his rich vein of goal scoring form.

Over the 90 minutes this was a fair result which leaves Otley Town still searching for their first win of the season.

With each game they are coming to terms with the Premier league and surely its just a matter of time before that elusive win occurs.

Otley Town Res...9 Thirsk Falcons...

FOR the first 20 minutes of this cup game, an upset was always a possibility, with Falcons early enthusiasm and a very muddy pitch adding to the possible drama.

However, a Steve Boddy hat-trick, his first for the club, settled Town's nerves and by half-time the game was effectively over as a contest, with a further goal being added by Dave Ryan.

In the second-half Falcons continued to battle and were rewarded for their efforts with a fine left foot shot by one of their strikers, which flew into the net passed an otherwise untroubled Town 'keeper.

The Reserves played some excellent football in the conditions and a sweeping move from defence, saw the ball passed between a number of players, before an intelligent step-over from Matt Vosper enable Ryan to claim his second of the game.

Falcons played some good football themselves, but could not match their premiership opponents who went on to score further goals from O'Halloran (2), Vosper (1) and McGee (1).

l The Reserves have no game this weekend.

Harlow Hill Res...Otley Town 'A'...6

OTLEY Town started this game slowly on a very wet and windy day.

But, after Harlow had a goal disallowed for offside, they went to the other end and the ball ended up in the back of the net through a mistake by a Harlow defender.

Chris Nightingale then scored after a sharp turn in the box.

Harlow pulled one back with a powerful shot from distance which gave goalkeeper Chris Pollard no chance.

Dale Gilmartin took the goalies shirt at the start of the second-half and Dominic Blair scored a magnificent goal when he juggled the ball around three defenders and leathered the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

John Barber then scored another two before Blair added the sixth.

This was a good performance from all the team with full backs Richard Hawley and Andy Turley having good games.

This result takes Otley 'A' to second place in the league, on goal difference.

l On Saturday, Otley Town 'A' visit Hampsthwaite United Reserves in the second round of the League Supplementary Cup.

Otley Town Under-14's...15 Lawnswood Lasers U-14's...3

OTLEY Town Under-14's found the net fifteen times against Lawnswood Laser's Under-14's on Sunday.

Otley scored in the first few minutes through new signing Luke Potusynskyj, who went on to earn man-of-the-match and a double hat-trick with six goals in only his second game for the club.

Luke makes a welcome return to the club after an absence of two years, when he played for Menston Hot-Shots.

He must surely be looking forward to combining forces with Stuart Ives, who himself netted four of Otley's goals.

Lawnswood were awarded two consolations from the penalty spot before half-time, and having played downhill, Otley ran out 8-2 leaders for the second-half,

Playing on an uphill slope Otley showed a confidence lacking in recent years and managed to net seven more goals and only concede one more.

Other goals came from Danny Fahy (3) Ben Leeming (1) and James Kirk (1).

Exceptional performances by all players including Tim Waite-Pullan, on his debut in defence, and a superb performance by Matt Roundell in the Otley goal, meant they can stride forward with confidence to their County Cup tie next week at Greetland Goldstars, Halifax.

Players should meet at the Licks car park at noon, all support welcome.