Otley Town 0 Shelley 2

ALTHOUGH the result of this game ultimately was a fair one, it is no exaggeration to say Otley Town could have been five up at half-time given the clear cut chances created and squandered.

Leading scorer Toby Harris had the opportunity on four occasions to punish a lax Shelley defence whose use of the high line invited Otley to attack at will, unfortunately it was one of those days for the big striker.

In fairness to Harris, who worked his socks off for the cause, two of the chances missed or – in the latter case – ruled out, were rather unfortunate.

Before this though he should have scored a couple when presented with straight forward one-on-ones when well placed.

A third chance came when Harris picked up the ball in his own half and ran fully 70 yards before, exhausted, his final touch let him down when again face to face with the Shelley keeper.

The last of his first-half chances came when he finished nicely at the far post. Sadly for Town the linesman’s flag was up far too early for the non-interfering John Locke being in an offside position.

There was to be one more chance in the half for Town to get on the scoresheet but Josh Waite appeared to be taken by surprise when he found himself alone with the ball just ten yards from goal. Neither of the two options open to him – a first time shot or control and a side footer – were taken and the chance was gone.

As seems to be the norm these days Town started the game without key players, missing through injury or work commitments, and so those available were once again asked to improvise and play in unfamiliar roles. That said stand-in wing backs Scott Cater and Tom Walker did this admirably in a first half where possession was shared but chances monopolised by Otley.

Mention should also go to Otley’s veteran keeper Chris Brodie for the fine instinctive save to deny Shelley their only chance of the first period.

With no score at half-time the team talk was encouragingly upbeat with all agreeing that if the team could keep it tight at the back, and continue to make chances – one would finally be taken and the points secured.

Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. Shelley having ridden their luck in the first half gradually worked their way into things and after a period of pressure took the first chance that came their way – when Town were caught out on the left and the resultant cross was easily converted.

Shelley thought they had scored again soon after – but this time the goal was disallowed for foul play in the lead-up. The escape should have been the trigger for Town to build up a head of steam in the final 20 minutes and it looked like they had got the equaliser when Cater hit a fine drive from 25 yards. Instead of nestling in the net the ball pinged back of the post at a crazy angle avoiding all of Otley’s follow up players.

This final moment of good fortune served to embolden Shelley and they scored again with a scruffy goal which a fit Brodie would normally have kept out.

Unfortunately he was hampered by a nasty groin injury which badly restricted his movement and the ball dribbled past him.

And so a disappointing home defeat for Town in a game that was eminently winnable.

This Saturday Town will hope to pick from a full squad for the away encounter at East End Park (2pm).