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Andy Carlton who scored Otley Town's winning goal in the final

Otley Town 1 Yeadon Ventus Celtic 0

They were however made to fight all the way at Guiseley's Nethermoor Park ground on May Day Monday morning by a gritty Yeadon Ventus Celtic side and only secured victory by the narrowest of margins well into added time.

Otley had not played competitive football for two weeks and in the early part of the game it showed as it took them quite some time to settle to the heavy pitch conditions and the unusual humidity.

Once they got over the early loss of Tom Chadwick however, Town were the more assertive side with Dan Jowett and Ben Greenhow bossing midfield and they really should have been two or three goals to the good by half-time.

On three separate occasions Otley forwards were profligate when great passing movements got them beyond a rather square Ventus rearguard.

In the final 15 minutes of the half Ventus came into the picture but were unable to penetrate the Town rearguard marshalled superbly by Jamie Simms, Joe Lunn and Rob Cooper.

Manager Bolton told his side to be patient and the chances would come and come they did throughout the second-half.

However, for all the Otley near misses and goalline clearances it was Ventus who would dominate possession in the half and they can consider themselves a little unlucky to be on the end of such a cruel blow in injury time.

In retrospect they really had only themselves to blame for they fashioned only one clear cut chance - brilliantly saved by Cooper - in their 35 minutes of dominance.

As Ventus ran out of steam Otley sensed a chance to win it in normal time and with the introduction of Will Thorpe and Ross Hutchison they began to turn the tide.

Nevertheless it still looked as if the game would run to extra-time, as the Wharfedale Sunday Cup final had, when Ben Greenhow, somehow finding inner strength, burst through from midfield and laid the ball into the path of Andy Carlton.

Carlton, playing his second cup final in as many days, appeared to have waited too long but with the assurance of a man who has numerous pressure games under his belt he calmly chipped the ball over the Ventus keeper and into the net.

The Otley team had great support from all connected with the club as they celebrated at the end of a momentous season.

This was the first time since 1984-85 season that Otley Town had won the trophy.

To reach this year's final they defeated Burley Trojans 2-1 in the quarter-finals after receiving a bye in the first round.

They then accounted for Pool AFC 4-0 in the semi-finals.

Ventus reached the final by defeating Bramhope AFC 3-0 in the first round, Guiseley AFC Reserves 3-2 in the quarter-final and Albert AFC 3-2 in the semi-final.

The referee for the final was Stewart Taylor and assistants were Paul Varley and Adam Bowen with the fourth official Gavin Scott.

l Town have one final fixture to fulfil - home to also promoted Leeds City at the Old Showfield this Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.

Before this game the Division One Championship trophy will be presented to the Otley players by the West Yorkshire League Secretary Kevin Parkinson. Town will now move up into the Premier Division where they will join neighbours Pool AFC so some more interesting derby clashes are in store.

The Wharfedale FA Wm. Machell & Sons FA Sunday Cup was won by underdogs FC Clothiers of Yeadon in a penalty shoot out. The sides were level 1-1 after extra-time Carl Firth having scored for Clothiers and Mick Haran for Baildon Trinity.

Clothiers went on to win 4-3 on penalties. The first three takers from each side scored scored and the fourth takers each hit the post. Clothiers then netted their final penalty and Baildon missed theirs.

Penalty scorers for Clothiers were: Andrew Scatchard, Jordan Carlisle, Adam Stead and Darren Nicholls.

Referee was Reid Haddow and assistants Ian Clapham and Tony McGowan, ably supported by fourth official Ian Metcalf.

Guiseley AFC's volunteer groundstaff were thanked for getting both finals on after severe flooding at the ground.

11:57am Thursday 8th May 2008

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