Otley Town 3 Howden Clough 1

OTLEY Town overcame a spirited Howden Clough side to progress to the third round of the League Cup where they will meet the winner of Oxenhope and Beeston.

The visitors could count themselves slightly unfortunate as they matched Town for the majority of the game and but for a couple of fine saves from home keeper Andy Doey would have been well in the game.

Despite being outplayed in the early stages, Otley took the lead when Harry Higgins took advantage of poor defending to neatly lob the ball over a stranded goalkeeper.

The away side deservedly equalised early in the second half only to concede again shortly afterwards to Dan Chadwick's superbly placed free-kick.

This served to deflate Clough, and Town began to exert some measure of control so that when Tristan Holdsworth fired in from close range, the match was put to bed.

It could have been more but the erratic Howden keeper, responsible for two of Otley’s goals, made some excellent saves late on. One in particular from a Will Mullins header was out of the top drawer.

Outstanding again for Otley on the day was the experienced Scott Cater whose will to win carried his team to victory while at the same time showing fine sportsmanship in going to the aid of an injured opposition player.

This coming Saturday Town are back in District Cup action, with an away game against Horsforth St Margaret's (1.30pm).