Town youngsters beat Warley in epic

The lead changed hands on three occasions before a goal five minutes into the second period of extra time from Brighouse substitute Ben Pearson sunk gallant Warley.

A young and talented Brighouse side were in complete control for the opening 20 minutes and took a deserved lead after a fine team move and clever dummy from Isaac Baldwin gave Ash Scully time to drill home from 12 yards,

But for the heroics of Michael Hickinbotham in the Warley goal the game could have been over but Warley gradually settled and Edward Brigg and Macauley Norcliffe warmed the Town ‘keeper’s gloves.

Warley started to take control of proceedings after the interval and the returning Tom Hiley missed two glorious opportunities before Dan Kirman headed an equaliser from close range.

Brighouse looked vulnerable at set pieces and Dean Lawrence slammed home from eight yards to put the Halifax league side in front.

Town came firing back and the impressive Craig Billington rolled captain Craig Smith outside the area and side footed into the net via a deflection.

Carlton Balmer’s sweet volley went narrowly over. At the other end Ed Brigg cleared off the line but he then had his pocket picked by Scully, who made it 2-3.

Hiley’s scuffed effort in the last five minutes forced extra time and Norcliffe then clipped a post when he looked certain to score.

Tired legs meant chances were harder to come by. Hiley‘s shot hit the bar and the winner came against the run of play with the outstanding Scully laying a chance on a plate for Pearson. In the final moments Brigg poked wide following a scramble.

Holders Ovenden West Riding had a comfortable 4—1 victory over Northowram at Natty Lane.

Late withdrawals meant assistant boss Tony Kniveton played the whole game.

Jay Carney raced through from 40 yards out to put his side in front in the 10th minute,

Northowram were pegged back for long periods with stand-in ‘keeper Chris Conroy very active,

Scott Eastwood made it 2—0 after he had combined with Glyn Beale and Josh Hiley on 20 minutes,

Northowram kept resisting the pressure through Matthew Rushworth and James Fearnley but Carney made it 3—0 on the hour.

Northowram pulled a goal back with a clinical finish from the impressive Shaun Popek but Kniveton set up George Bamford for West Riding’s fourth.

Midgley United bounced back from a hurtful derby defeat at the hands of Calder ‘76 by thumping visitors Shelf United 6-1.

Boss Craig Gee asked his men to play with more width and they did just that after the boost of two early goals.

James Yates scored after good link-up play with Marvin Bonney and Tom Rawnsley added a quick second, cutting inside and shooting into the bottom corner.

An unmarked Harry Talbot got Shelf back into it with a header from Billy Grogan’s good cross but Ryan Jeffries made it 3-1 at the break with a nice curling effort after picking up the ball on the edge of the box.

Midgley pushed on in the second half. Rob Stansfield scored with a great header from an Andrew Butterworth free-kick; Bonney scored with a low shot after good work from Yates; and Jason Cartlidge cut in from the right and beat the Shelf ‘keeper at his near post.

Brighouse Sports booked their place in the second round with a 5-1 win at Sowerby United.

After an even and goalless first half Brighouse struck twice in the opening five minutes of the second period with goals from Nathan Shaw and Connor Durkin.

This gave Brighouse confidence and they enjoyed the better of the exchanges.

With 20 minutes to go Sowerby gave themselves a lifeline when Dan Boyd scored with a brave header.

Sowerby then pressed hard and had two strong shouts for penalties turned down as Brighouse looked to be hanging on.

As the game went into stoppage time Brighouse sealed the win with three quick fire goals from substitute Andrew Wright (two) and Borhan Doski.

West Yorklshire League side Huddersfield Amateur progressed with a comfortable 6-0 win against a game and valiant St Columbas from the Halifax second division.

The home team flew out of the blocks and were 3-0 up after just 10 minutes with two goals from Matty Crowther and one from Chris Hockin.

Jacob Driver bagged a fourth for the Amas and the visitors conceded an own goal just before the break to give a 5-0 half time scoreline.

Columbas batted well in the second half on the wide open spaces of Old Earth, restricting the Amateurs to a solitary goal from Jacob Driver. Ryan O’Neil was the pick of the visitors players.

Illingworth St Mary’s look unlikely to be anybody’s pushovers after crushing division higher derby rivals Mixenden United 8-2 at Natty Lane.

Owen Wilkinson scored a hat-trick as Ryburn United powered past AFC Crossleys 6-0 but Shelf FC were gallant in defeat at Greetland, losing 2-1 with Dave Noble getting both home goals.

Holmfield edged past fellow Premier side Copley United on penalties after a 3-3 draw while Calder ‘76 gained a second win of the season over derby foes Hebden Royd Red Star, winning 4-2.

Illingworth St Mary’s Reserves are the new leaders in Division Two of the Halifax AFL.

They were made to battle all the way by Hebden Royd Red Star Reserves before emerging 2-1 winners.

Hebden dominated the early stages and Illingworth were thankful for some fine saves by veteran Tony Clarke.

He was finally beaten by Jake Grannan’s strong header.

Illingworth slowly got back in the game and just before the break Nathan Field set up 16 year old Corey Waterworth to score on his debut.

Illingworth dominated after the break but and it wasn’t until the closing minutes when Jack Pullen, pushed up front, got the winner with a great finish from the edge of the box.

Also in Division Two, Northowram Reserves beat Salem Reserves 2-0, clinching victory in the final five minutes when sub Anthony Field lobbed visiting keeper Jack Watson from 40 yards.

Before that the game was nip and tuck with both sides only managing half chances, although Watson was the slightly busier of the keepers.

The other goal came a minute before half time when Paul Greenwood took advantage of a defensive lapse and waltzed round Watson before tapping home.

Visiting player manager Tom Jenkins missed a great chance but the hosts did enough to take the points.

The Elland clubs - United and Allstars - were among the Division One winners.

Scott Fieldhouse’s four goals were in vain for Salem, beaten 5-4 at home to Allstars, while Jake Bradbury’s two goals helped United get the better of visitors Ryburn Reserves by 6-3.