Otley Town are too good for the strugglers

It came as something of a surprise that the pitch was deemed playable given the amount of rainfall during the preceding 24 hours but apart from a 20 yard strip across one end of the pitch which made control difficult, the decision was justified. The playing surface stood up well to the wear and tear of a full blooded game.

An unchanged Otley played the first-half with the wind at their backs and down the slope and consequently were looking for a substantial lead with which to face the elements and the incline in the second- period.

For much of the half however, Town played a little too narrow, failing to use the diagonal pass to catch out the Barwick defence which was holding a most dangerous high line. These are very risky tactics to adopt when playing without linesmen, and though Town did manage to break the line on a few occasions not once were they able to take advantage mostly getting caught up in the boggy goalmouth before being able to make the strike on goal.

With half an hour gone, Barwick must have been most satisfied with their efforts having not conceded, been the equals of Otley, and even found time for some purposeful attacking play of their own.

It was however after 30 minutes that Town got lucky. Tom Chadwick picked up a loose ball, hit a cross shot that went through the legs of a group of players leaving the home keeper unsighted.

Otley pushed on for the second goal they knew they would need before the reversal of advantage at the break.

It duly came when Chris Alderson, enjoying a protracted spell in the first team, converted the penalty he had won when felled in the box.

Town manager Roger Eli was reasonably happy at the break but felt that his charges would need to score the next goal to make life comfortable.

This they did within minutes of the re-start when Stephen Boddy cut in from the left flank at pace leaving two Barwick defenders in his wake.

A perfectly executed one-two with Alderson left him clear to rifle home from 12 yards.

Alderson scored his second and Town's fourth when he broke clear and cheekily bamboozled the home keeper before rolling the ball into the corner.

With the game won and legs looking heavy, manager Eli introduced all three substitutes to the fray. Barwick pulled a goal back through an own goal from Paul North after a goalmouth melee but substitute Charles McGrath restored the four goal margin with ten minutes remaining.

Another consolation goal for Barwick in the dying minutes could do nothing to deflect from an excellent performance from Otley Town.

Town's other games were called off due to waterlogged pitches.

There are no home games this Saturday at the Old Showfield Ground. Town's first team travel to Old Headingley for a league game, kick-off 2pm.

Otley Town Reserves are away to Rothwell Town in the County Challenge Trophy. Otley Town B are away to Clifford in a league game, kick-off 2pm

Pool A 1 Harold Styans 4

After a resounding 6-0 win the previous week Pool A entertained Harold Styans in conditions that did little to encourage flowing football.

Playing into the wind Pool's defence came under pressure early on. A testing corner was cleared only to be clipped back into the box and it was nudged into the net to put Styans in front.

Pool's defence of Dempsey, Woodham, Budden and Chandler repelled several attacks before being caught out by a long ball that split the defence and was duly put away to give the visitors a two goal lead.

Pool pushed forward with tireless work from the midfield of Newbould, Wilson, Beck and Wilkinson. Despite a couple of efforts from Matt Budden which were saved Pool went into the break with a two goal deficit.

In the second-half Pool tore into the opposition. Cracking efforts from Budden and Kelly brought great saves from the keeper.

Disaster struck however when the opposition grabbed a dubious third goal which appeared yards off-side.

Pool pulled one back when Budden burst through and passed to Kelly who rifled his shot home.

With little time remaining Styans grabbed a fourth goal which did little to reflect the truly close fought nature of the contest. Match point went to Matt Budden.

Pool Veterans 5 Leeds Partizans 2

Pool Veterans entertained Leeds Partizans hoping to continue their 100 per cent record this season. Pool were somewhat depleted in numbers at the start, missing Watson and Goldthorp who were arriving late.

This showed as Leeds gained the upperhand in the early stages. The Pool defence of Conway, Readman, Woodham and Martin had to work hard to keep the visitors at bay.

The pressure told after ten minutes when the Leeds forward broke through on the left and his low shot just evaded Thompson in goal. Pool quickly equalised.

It was 2-1 to Leeds when a mix-up in the Pool defence saw the striker's header fly into the top corner.

Pool introduced Watson and Goldthorp with Nixon dropping into the hole behind the front two of Goldthorp and Hartley.

The change was immediate with Nixon and Hartley making several probing runs at the defence. Pool saw good efforts from Nixon and Goldthorp just go wide and it was 2-1 at half-time.

The second-half started with the Pool midfield of Higgins, Wolfenden, Watson and Tolson gaining control. Nixon burst through and was tripped for a blatant penalty.

Watson slid the spot-kick home coolly to the delight of the crowd.

Nixon continued to be a thorn in the visitors' side and scored number three with a clever chip over the keeper.

Pool were now in control and attacked at will. Watson made it 4-2 from another fine Nixon run and cross then Conway burst through from defence to shoot home number five for his first goal for Pool.

Wolfenden in midfield controlled the game well with some telling tackles and intelligent use of the ball.

Leeds made a belated comeback but Thompson in goal dealt with several crosses confidently.

Pool introduced Super Vet' Eric Jarvis for the last ten minutes having sewn up the game. This was another good win for Pool in their quest to win their league. Match point went to Blair Nixon for a fine display.