West Yorkshire League: Late strike keeps Park promotion hopes alive

A late winner gave East End a deserved 3-2 victory against visitors Aberford Ablion.

Determined to continue the fight for silverware, assistant manager and player, Craig Ogilvie, insists that result has ignited a new belief into the squad.

“That win shows we’ve still got the desire to do well in the second half of the season and keep putting pressure on the teams around us.,” he said.

“It’s still the aim to be promoted; however we know we have dropped silly points and now it’s no longer in our hands. We just need to keep winning and hope the teams around us take points off each other. We’ll keep fighting that’s for certain.”

A gruelling 80 minutes saw the two sides cancel each other out as they fought for the bulk of possession in the heart of midfield with Gareth Mitchell’s brace for East End Park levelling the score at 2-2. It wasn’t until late into the second period that the breakthrough was created and Kyle Wilkinson’s well-taken winner stole the spoils for the home side to keep them nestled in second place.

“The lads really dug in deep. It’s what the team needed after a few poor results before Christmas, which disappointed us. The game on Saturday was a complete contrast to the clash earlier in the season where we won 3-0, but overall the lads were very happy to get the result,” added Ogilvie.

“The weather affected everyone but that was our first game back and it was against a team who have now paid for a squad capable of beating everyone in the league, so beating them can really kick start us again. To be perfectly honest, I think the league is between Stanley and Headingley. Stanley were the best team we’ve played so far and are deserved leaders. I think Headingly have a lot of games in hand and can go top if they win those.

“But there have been a lot of twists and turns but we just need to keep our heads down and keep getting points and hopefully sneak up the inside and get there on the line.”

With the Inter League cup averting the attention of the WYAFL representative squad, all Premier Division games were postponed to allow the selected players to face Cambridgeshire County League in the quarter-finals.

A physically enduring 90 minutes produced semi-final progression for the West Yorkshire side with a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a late goal from Scott Hargreaves.

Also in Division One, Stanley United extended their lead at the head of the table with an impressive 6-1 victory away at Hartshead. A brace from Nathan Smith accompanied Stuart Davies’ goal for United before Joe Childs came off the bench to score a hat-trick to double their tally and secure the spoils.

Boroughbridge also secured three points, Jake Fletcher bagged a goal either side of the interval in a neat 2-0 win over Kippax.

It was also goals galore in Leeds Modernians’ fixture at Ripon City;.Ben Turner netted four to accompany Ross Mackenley’s goal in a 5-3 win for Modernians. Danny Middleton also got his name on the score sheet, bagging the only goal of the game in Sherburn White Rose’s 1-0 win at home to Whitkirk Wanderers.

Baildon Trinity Athletic also shared the spoils with Old Centrailians in a 1-1 draw.

Over in Division Two, Kellingley Welfare produced a shock result, thrashing league leaders Hall Green United 6-2.

Robert Anderson netted a hat-trick that was joined by goals from Nathan Adamson, Bradley Richardson and Connor Ferguson. That result allowed Altofts to squash the gap at the top as they extended their run of great form with a 5-1 win away to Garforth Rangers.

Daniel Jarvis and Jamie Lister bagged two goals each to join Tom Whitehouse’s strike as they look to be title contenders.

Mount St Mary’s also bagged three points thanks to a 4-2 win over Middleton Park, Jordan Talbot (3) and Lewis Coyle securing the win.

Ossett Albion’s fixture at Normanton Woodhouse Hill also supplied goals. Callum Dawson, Patrick Hoyle, Greg Hunter and Ashley Smith all netted in a 4-1 win for Ossett.

Swillington Saints’ clash with Ossett Common Rovers ended in a victory for Swillington with Matthew Marshall, Danny Waite and Thomas Day securing a 3-1 win.