Wyke Wanderers 0 Otley Town 1

Otley made it through to the semi-finals of the West Yorkshire League Cup with this hard-earned win.

They will now meet local rivals Leeds City at the Glasshoughton Welfare Ground.

After their exploits in the County Cup, this game was a huge banana skin for the Otley players and in the end it was just a case of getting a result.

Wyke were no mugs for they had beaten Premier League opponents Ripon City 4-0 in a previous round.

On a small rock hard pitch on the top of a windswept hill it soon became apparent that it was absolutely impossible to play any kind of football so Town had to dig-in, play the percentages and hope that their quality would see them through.

They faced the wind in the first half and defended excellently. However Wyke played into Otley’s hands by trying too many predictable long balls which were either mopped up by Jamie Simms and Jimmy Davey or went sailing through to Gav Phillis or out for a goal-kick.

In the second half it was Otley’s turn attack and even though they tried the more pragmatic form of attack – by playing to feet – it was near impossible to get the ball down and under control in such conditions.

Town’s goal came from a Tom Chadwick corner from the right which almost everyone thought was sailing behind for a goal-kick. The exception was Luke Danskin who put in a great header across goal for Ben Greenhow to tap-in.

That was really the end of anything constructive by either team.

Town are in league action on Saturday at home game against Sherburn White Rose (2.30pm).