Bardsey 2 Otley Town 3

It was perhaps a good time for Otley Town to be visiting League Champions Bardsey. In the preceding week the League Champions suffered major disappointment when the FA upheld their decision to eject them from the West Riding County Challenge Cup on what most club secretaries would consider the most spurious of grounds. So controversial was the decision that both the County FA and the West Yorkshire League felt the need to post notices on their respective websites explaining the decision. A most unusual occurrence.

Town traditionally play well at Bardsey anyway and have had some great results over the years so were very much looking forward to their first competitive game in 3 weeks. Manager Dave Morris, rather surprisingly, decided beforehand to forsake the attacking skills of Scott Cater by giving him man marking job on Bardsey’s creator-in-chief Graeme Bingley, and Josh Waite was asked to perform a similar destructive role on home skipper Jamie Thompson.

To say the tactics worked would be an understatement – within the first 30 minutes of play, Town found themselves 3 goals up, the frustrated Bingley was in the refs book and Bardsey were facing a mountain to climb. The opener came after five  minutes when James Evison, cleverly lobbed the home keeper from 35 yards.

Clever because he had clearly observed the home keeper having difficulty with the low but dazzling sunlight. A second goal followed five minutes later when Toby Harris playing as the lone striker chased a through ball which was to most a lost cause.

However he was rewarded for his energy when the Bardsey keeper spilled the ball into his path giving the big striker a simple tap in. The third goal came on the half hour when a splendid move down the left involving Evison, Lake and Cater culminated in Dave Webber expertly flicking home from six yards.

At this stage both sets of players were looking at each other in disbelief but Bardsey being the good side they are fought back well and might have pulled a goal or two back before half-time with shots whistling past the post and then having a marginal decision go against them when a ‘goal’ was chalked-off for offside. On the other hand they were definitely rattled and it was no surprise to see Rob Dickinson find the refs book for one back chat too many – unfortunately Toby Harris suffered the same fate for an over zealous appeal to referee Clearie.

Half time gave an opportunity for both teams to get their breath. Town made a slight tactical change pushing Evison further forward to work with Harris, but the change made by Bardsey was a real eye opener.

They took off the excellent Michael Mills, went for three at the back and brought on Steve Palfrey to make a 3-4-3 system. With nothing to lose their was real intent about the way Bardsey began the second period. Fortunately for Town both Joe Currie and Jamie Simms were in imperious and form and the chances were just not coming for the home team.

This lead to more frustration and when Dickinson, chasing a through ball, followed through on Town keeper Chief Brodie, and was given his marching orders for a second yellow. At this point it looked like the game was up for Bardsey because for all their huffing and puffing they were a man short and just not making the breakthrough that might have opened the floodgates.

Brodie made a couple of decent saves but they were from distance and unlike his opposite number, his handling was impeccable. After 65 minutes though Bardsey got the break they had been looking for. Toby Harris on a fine run was caught by a Bardsey player just outside the box. Unfortunatelyhe made too much of it and the refereesent him off after issuing a second yellow card for diving.

Bardsey now sensed their opportunity and they reduced the arrears with a fine shot from the edge of the box from striker Steve Mallory. For the first time in the match Otley were under the cosh but still their resilience was admirable.

Bardsey made two more substitutions and in response Town brought on Tom Walker, Joe Clarke and new signing James Curry. Palpably Bardsey now had the upper hand but it looked like they would be disappointed as the Town defence held firm.

Then out of the blue they received a helping hand from the ref. Palfrey’s dribble in the box was a good one but when he fell over with no one near him the Town supporters thought the ref had blown for simulation and there would be yet another yellow. Instead the ref pointed to the spot and in the process booked Town’s closest player Jamie Simms.

Bardsey’s left back made no mistake from the spot and Town really had to dig deep in those final minutes of the game – particularly when 5 extra minutes were added at the end – but in the end they got the win they deserved against a very good and sporting side in Bardsey

So an excellent performance with all 14 players playing their part. Special mention should go to the two stoppers Currie and Simms and also to veteran keeper Chief Brodie playing his first game in seven weeks following injury.

This coming Saturday Town, now up to 8th in League, are due to play Knaresborough at home, kick off 2pm. Town need to show some improved form at home having lost 7 of the 11 games at the Old Showground this season. With new signings and a full squad to pick from – this should be possible.