Otley Town 3

Honley 1

OTLEY Town's first team were in West Riding County FA Challenge Cup action at The Old Showfield on Saturday. They needed extra-time to see off their visitors Honley in this first round tie.

In a low quality but open game Town advanced to the second round with an ultimately deserved victory over the Huddersfield League side.

Town started with their familiar 4-4-2 formation and should have scored on their first attack but Dean Wagstaff managed to shoot wide with a gaping goal in front of him.

Town continued to attack and dominated the opening 20 minutes but Honley, sensing their good fortune, slowly started to work their way back into contention. Tom Chadwick caused problems on the left and in one foray combined with Graeme Hutchison to give Dan Jowett an opportunity and he took this with a low drive.

There was a feeling of unease at the break as young 'keeper Dan Bradley had had several excellent saves to make. Fifteen minutes into the second-half Town made a double substitution putting on strikers Liam Robinson and Paul Harrison for Wagstaff and Michael Jordan. This injected some life into Town's play but it was Honley who scored to equalise after a long ball again caught the Town defence out.

Chances came and went for both sides. For the extra-time player-manager Roger Eli introduced himself and Town's superior fitness began to tell and they pulled clear with goals from Harrison, played in by Eli, and Carl Kernick, with the final touch in a scramble.

l On Saturday Town entertain league leaders Brighouse Town with a 2.30 pm kick-off.

Following this win Town will be looking to improve their league form which sees them currently lying fourth from the bottom of the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division. Town Reserves by contrast in their first season in the County Amateur League Reserve Division stand proudly at the top of the table having won all four of their games scoring 13 goals and conceding just two.

Otley Town A 2

Pateley Bridge 2

This was the A team's worst performance of the season to date, managing to salvage a point right at the very end.

Town had a very strong side out but never reached the heights of previous weeks and they looked lethargic and disjointed, although some over fussy decisions against the home team left the players frustrated.

Pateley raced into a two goal lead, with one of the goals a 40 yard strike arguably 'goal of the season' even at this early stage.

Barber pulled one back for Town with a penalty and at half-time it was 2-1.

Again Pately were the brighter side after the break and looked as though they would go on and take all three points. Another decision by the referee left Town skipper Dexter bemused but his comments to the referee were ill-advised and he was sent off.

Being down to ten men was what Town needed to kick start their game and for the last 20 minutes they ran and probed at the Pateley defence, finally getting the equaliser through a swivel, turn and shot from Chis Wain.

Despite being a man down, Town were now on top and pushing for a winner but it was not to be and they had to settle for a point.

l On Saturday Town A are away to Garforth Town Reserves, kick-off 2.30 pm.