CRAVEN LEAGUE
NORTHERN PLANT HIRE CUP FINAL
OXENHOPE 1 SKIPTON LMS 0
Oxenhope completed their fixtures by claiming their second piece of silverware for the season, lifting the Northern Plant Hire Cup last Wednesday evening, at Gargrave. The Worth Valley side had already convincingly beaten Skipton LMS twice in their league fixtures recently to deny the Skipton side the league title, as well as knocking them out of the League Cup, so LMS were determined not to let this be a four timer.
Skipton’s game plan was to use their strength & height to their advantage & not let the much younger Oxenhope side get into any rhythm of play, closing them down at every opportunity making the first period a dour affair. Both sides did have their chances LMS hit the woodwork & Oxenhope’s Tom Wallbank should have made more of his chance when breaking clear of his marker & firing over the bar with only the ‘keeper to beat.
In the second period Oxenhope took a grip of midfield & on the hour were rewarded when Scott Nelson won the ball in the centre of the park, drove forwards & laid the ball off to Graham Robinson whose perfectly placed pass allowed Wallbank to send his strike beyond the reach of the diving ‘keeper. Oxenhope now had the upper hand & stretched the play making several good chances that should have been taken, because in the final 10 minutes the older & experienced legs of the Skipton side raised their game in a late effort to retrieve the match as they pressed forwards for the equaliser. Oxenhope’s defence withstood the pressure & young central defender Jason Walton turning in a commanding performance to be rightly named Man of the Match. So it was Oxenhope that went forward to lift the cup for a second successive year.
CRAVEN LEAGUE
LEAGUE CUP FINAL
OXENHOPE 3 WADDINGTON 3 (aet)
Oxenhope won 7 – 6 on penalties
An extremely entertaining Craven League Cup Final for a big crowd to enjoy in a match that swung back & forth. Waddington were in a determined mood from the whistle & had the cup holders on the back foot, closing down Oxenhope whenever they were in possession. Against the run of play though it was the Worth Valley side that took the lead when Dan Moriarty broke down the left & fed Chris Newman, the big striker took his time, beating the ‘keeper from a narrow angle. Waddington continued in their dominant form & were rewarded when midway through the half a cross from the right was not cut out by the Oxenhope defence & converted from close range. Within 10 minutes Waddington took the lead with an unstoppable free kick hammered in by Robert Lloyd from the edge of the box. The cup holders looked lethargic & uninspired as Waddington had several further chances to extend their lead, hitting the post on a couple of occasions & ‘keeper Pete Gower touching over several rasping shots from the rampant Waddington. Oxenhope were glad to hear the half time whistle & still be in the game.
Harsh words were spoken during the interval & Oxenhope came out determined to put on a far better display. Their efforts were rewarded when Jonathan Clewes jinked his way past three defenders before shooting hard & low past the ‘keeper to level & shortly after a well placed cross from Nivard Trowers was headed home by the inspirational Scott Nelson. Oxenhope now looked to be in control, only for Waddington to break down the right & the cross was side footed in at the far corner for the equaliser. Oxenhope brought on the fresh legs of Tom Wallbank & Graham Robinson as the cup holders now stretched the play but they could not find that telling final ball for the winner. In extra time Oxenhope’s superior fitness came into its own as Waddington were reduced to chasing the game & their players going down with cramp, in the last minute of extra time Moriarty had his best chance to settle the match, with only the ‘keeper to beat he blasted the ball into the side netting.
So to the dreaded penalty shoot out - 12 excellent penalties were converted, with Nelson, Moriarty, Day, Wallbank, Towler & Robinson all being successful, before unlucky penalty number 13 fell to Waddington , a brilliant diving save to his right by Pete Gower gave Oxenhope their chance & up stepped John Leary who confidently stroked the ball into the net . So it was Oxenhope’s captain & rightly named Man of the Match, Scott Nelson that went forward to lift the trophy for the fifth consecutive year for the Worth Valley side & this victory went some way to easing the disappointment of losing the Keighley Cup Final the previous week. Oxenhope now need to prepare themselves for their third cup final of the season when they meet Skipton LMS in the Northern Plant Hire Cup at Gargrave this Wednesday evening.
KEIGHLEY CUP FINAL
CROSSHILLS 2 OXENHOPE 0
A large following from the Worth Valley turned out at Cougar Park, last Friday evening to see if their young Oxenhope side could fulfil the dream of winning the Keighley Cup for only the second time in the Club’s 96 year history, the last time was back in 1966. The Worth Valley side gave it their best efforts but found it difficult to cope with the more experienced, big & physical West Lancs. League opposition who imposed their style of play on the game. In the early exchanges Oxenhope had the best chances & came closest to opening the scoring when in a goalmouth scramble striker Tom Wallbank’s goal bound shot was cleared off the line. Then on 10 minutes a Crosshills attack down their left was halted & the resulting free kick looped over defenders & the Crosshills midfielder Ian Craven headed back across the goal, ‘keeper Pete Gower got his fingers to the ball but could not keep it out. Crosshills now dominated the game with Oxenhope’s midfield being over run by the vastly more experienced Crosshills side, with their playmaker James Gill & captain Gavin Shearer dominating the middle of the park. Wave upon wave of attacks of long, high balls tested the Oxenhope defence but the pairing of young Jason Walton & John Leary headed clear every aerial assault that Crosshills fired in at them. Oxenhope though always looked dangerous on the break with Liam McNicol a constant threat down the left flank & the tireless Tom Wallbank chasing every ball up front.
After the break Oxenhope enjoyed their best spell of the game, captain Scott Nelson driving the team forward from midfield but his strikers found the efficient & well organised Crosshill’s defensive back line, marshalled by Stephen Throup, in no mood to allow the Oxenhope players time on the ball. A snap shot from Wallbank flew just wide of the post & when 17 years old full back Rob Pullan drove forward down the right & found himself on the edge of the area he saw his powerfully hit dipping shot skim the crossbar. Midway through the second period the game was put beyond doubt when a Crosshill’s corner from the right was failed to be dealt with & headed in from close range by Robert Bradley. To their credit the youngsters from Oxenhope never gave up the fight & continued to give one hundred percent. The tireless effort of Wallbank took its toll & when he was replaced up front by substitute Chris Newman he saw his first effort test ‘keeper Sam Smith in the Crosshills goal & then with time ebbing away a goal bound effort from McNicol was denied by the crossbar – it was just not to be Oxenhope’s night. The crowd saw a gutsy performance from their young side but it was the Crosshills team that deservedly went forward to collect the Keighley Cup.
Oxenhope must now put this honourable defeat behind them & look forwards to their two remaining cup finals, the next in the Craven & District League Cup at Skipton on Tuesday evening 6th May when Waddington are the opposition. Followed by the Northern Plant Hire Cup Final against Skipton LMS at Gargrave, on Wednesday 14th May kick off 6.30pm.