Oxenhope Reserves 4

Bingley Town Reserves 0

OXENHOPE'S young reserves side produced a dominant performance to beat Bingley Town Reserves in the final of the Keighley Supplementary Cup at Silsden.

They started on the front foot and had Bingley defending from the off, Matt Hardy having first sight of goal. A neat passing movement led to Liam Bonner laying the ball into Hardy but his strike went just over.

On the quarter Oxenhope took the lead. Macaulay Smith broke down the right, fed the ball to Bonner, he unselfishly passed to Liam Brooksbank whose clever footwork drew first defender, then the keeper before stroking the ball into the net.

Oxenhope continued to dominate with neat, passing football limiting Bingley to half chances from distance.

Wide players Smith and Brooksbank were in their element on the big pitch, using their pace and trickery down the flanks while veteran James Ley held a firm grip of midfield.

Bingley's best chance of the first period came from a long throw-in and strike but was smothered by Oxenhope goalkeeper Jack Fairlee.

Oxenhope eventually were rewarded for their constant pressure when, two minutes before half time, Smith's well-flighted free-kick was blocked it came out to Leon Drake who coolly slotted the ball through a congested goalmouth into the net.

Bingley started the second period in determined manner but Oxenhope's defence dealt with the threat, Joe Bairstow and Drake dominant at the centre of the back line supported by skipper Tom Duffin and Jake Dowden.

Oxenhope were soon back on the offensive. Duffin collected the ball in his own half, drove down the right, jinked his way past three tackles and weaved his way into the Bingley box, but his final effort went just wide of the target.

Dowden combined with Brooksbank to set up Hardy but his header flashed past the post.

Smith then produced an individual effort, evading several tackles, but his shot was touched over the bar by the Bingley keeper.

Oxenhope now produced wave upon wave of attacks. Brooksbank and Bonner's efforts were both thwarted by the keeper and when substitute Danny Driver did beat the custodian he saw his shot hit the crossbar.

On 80 minutes Bingley's defence eventually cracked. Bonner laid the ball into man of the match Brooksbank to stroke home his second. Five minutes later Brooksbank returned the compliment, stretching away down the right he put the ball into the path of the advancing Bonner to fire home Oxenhope's fourth.

Captain Duffin went forward to lift the cup as the heavens opened, but the rain did not stop this promising and upcoming team from celebrating their victory that went on long into the early hours of the next morning.

Oxenhope Res: Fairlee, Duffin, Dowden, Bairstow, Drake, Ley (Quinlan), Potts (Crossland), Brooksbank, Bonner, Hardy, Smith (Driver). Sub not used: Fleetwood.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week the majority of the Oxenhope team had played in a semi-final of the Craven, Aire & Wharfedale Junior League Under-18s Cup, where they beat the league champions Yeadon Ventus 3-2, via an own goal. Brooksbank and Drake fired in the winner, in the final they will meet Silsden.