Otley Town 1 Bardsey 5

OTLEY Town found that the gap between themselves and the best teams in the league is still a sizeable one on Saturday, when they fell to a comprehensive defeat at home to Bardsey.

The away side were dominant in the first period, dictating the tempo of the game and fashioning a number of openings. However, they squandered several decent chances, and were made to pay when Toby Harris ran on to an excellent through ball from Harry Higgins to slot coolly home and give Town the lead.

Otley joy though was short-lived when Rob Dickinson equalised with a header shortly afterwards. This was on the stroke of half-time, always a bad time to concede a goal, and it was therefore important that the home side came out resolute for the second half.

Some hopes! Barely a minute had been played when slack defending allowed Dickinson to drive home his second, and any thoughts Town had of getting back into the game disappeared when a mistake from Dan Chadwick let in Dickinson to round the keeper and complete his hat-trick. It was unfortunate Chadwick should be the one to make the mistake, as he is one of the most reliable performers in the team.

By now Bardsey tails were up, and they ran in further goals before the end to make the final score emphatic.

On this evidence, there is still some way to go before Otley can consistently match teams like Bardsey and compete for the title.

Next Saturday Town travel to Wetherby Athletic (kick-off 2:30pm).