Addingham

at the top

Oxenhope 2

Addingham 3

ADDINGHAM returned to league action looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Having beaten Oxenhope the previous week in the League Cup quarter-final Addingham now had the chance to complete the league double over their hosts, having already won 4-0 in the previous league game back in September.

Chris Boyce and Peter Smales returned to the squad, but manager Mark Ridley elected to select the same XI who had done so magnificently the week before.

It seemed to be a case of 'deja vu' as the visitors, playing down the slope, started sluggishly and it was Oxenhope who forced the early pressure. They deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes, Addingham failed to clear a corner and when the ball was fed back across the box Bairstow made no mistake from two yards out.

For the umpteenth time this season Addingham had to do things the hard way. The home side was dominating midfield. To counter this Greg Palmer was pushed from centre back to centre midfield and his impact was immediate.

The extra man gave Simon Collins and Jon Cummings the extra space and they exploited this with glee. Cummings spread the ball wide to Barrow who skinned the full-back and drilled in a low cross that Wild gobbled up at the far post.

Instantly Addingham began to turn the screw, Houlbrook down the right was on top form, supplying the ammunition for Wild and Barrow, Marriot had a cracking drive tipped over and Cummings forced Tetley in the home goal to make a scrambling save from his low shot.

The second goal, when it came, was a carbon copy of the first but with the roles reversed. Mills put a peach of a ball down the line that Wild picked up wide left and crossed low, this time for Jamie Barrow to tap home at the far post. With a 2-1 lead Addingham should have taken full control and put some real daylight between themselves and Oxenhope.

Their failure at this stage to turn possession into goals would have been fatal against better opposition. Chances were squandered at regular intervals and Addingham paid a high price for slackness right on half-time.

They switched off completely as Oxenhope took a corner and the skipper had a free glancing header that Andy Collins, on the goal line, was helpless to keep out.

Not for the first time this season Addingham were guilty of a cardinal sin, the poorer the opponents the poorer they play, but this is often a dangerous game as was proving the case today.

Oxenhope should have been well beaten by the break but basic complacency had let them back in and Addingham were now frustrated by themselves.

A half-time dressing down usually does the trick, but more often making players aware of their capabilities has more effect.

Addingham soon began to raise their game and Barrow and Wild showed real awareness of each other as they were tormenting the two centre backs.

Peter Smales came on left wing for his first game in eight weeks and despite showing a slight rustiness returned to form quickly. He sent in a great cross that Simon Collins headed inches wide. Chris Boyce replaced the injured John Cummings and instantly dominated the midfield.

Indeed, he set up what was to eventually prove the winner, having just beaten three defenders only to see his shot saved.

Barrow went on a mazy run, latching onto Boyce's cracking pass he smashed the ball home to put Addingham ahead. Addingham once again started to coast the game instead of accelerating away.

With 15 minutes left Oxenhope had little to lose and began throwing men forward with true abandonment.

One such attack was only threatened by a fine save from Andy Dobson.

Seconds later the centre forward skimmed the bar as Addingham's fragile lead was nearly eradicated.

Addingham, when in possession, had Oxenhope truly stretched and on numerous occasions could have scored had they showed just a little more composure.

In the end they had to settle for a 3-2 win that keeps them one point clear at the top.

Match Point went to Greg Palmer who showed great versatility in two positions.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.