Kippax 2 Otley Town 4

Despite making heavy weather of a game in which the home side were reduced to ten men for most of the second half, Otley Town continued their fine run of form with a West Yorkshire League Premier Division away victory.

For the second week running, Town got off to a poor start when they conceded a soft goal. A long punt from the home goalkeeper was allowed to bounce and cause confusion between Scott Firth and stand-in keeper Harry Higgins and from the resulting melee, Kippax took the lead.

Town were not at the races for the following 20 minutes, but they slowly began to gain control of the midfield. Halfway through the first half they equalised when a lovely cross from young Declan Adams was diverted into his own goal by a defender under pressure from centre forward Toby Harris.

Town were well on top but had no further goals to show for their dominance before half-time. Two strong penalty claims were turned down by the referee.

Early in the second half, the home side were reduced to ten men when their right back was sent off for kicking out off the ball at Harris.

And when Josh Waite scored soon afterwards, with some deft control and a smart finish, it looked as though Town would win at a canter.

Football though, is nothing if not unpredictable, and Town took their foot off the gas and allowed the home side back into the game. The control of the midfield was lost and Kippax flourished.

When they equalised with a marvellous team goal the result was in the balance.

However, the momentum swung back Town’s way when substitute Jermaine Wilson cut in from the right and unleashed a shot with his left foot that was going wide until it took a cruel deflection off the head of a Kippax defender.

The game was then made safe when Paul Ashwell lashed a fine strike beyond the home goalkeeper, who had no chance despite several excellent saves earlier.

Town’s man of the match was Jamie Simms, who was immac- ulate at the heart of defence.

This Saturday Town have a home game in the League Cup against Boroughbridge (1:30pm).