Ossett Town captain Steven Jeff collects the trophy from Steve Kelly’s parents Margaret and Joey. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Ossett Town successfully retained the Steve Kelly Memorial Trophy with a 3-1 win at Hemsworth Miners Welfare last night.
Nathan Curtis’ first half double gave John Reed’s men a commanding position in their first pre-season friendly of the summer.
A stunning free kick from Nash Connolly brought Hemsworth back into the game.
Not for the want of trying, Hemsworth attempted to grab an equaliser to force penalties.
Ossett managed to hold on and Barrie Frankland sealed the victory in the dying seconds.
That ensured Ossett captain Steven Jeff collected the trophy from Steve Kelly’s mother and father, Margaret and Joey, at the end of the match.
Kelly was a popular and well-respected football coach in West Yorkshire, who served Ossett and Hemsworth, alongside a number of other clubs.
He passed away in October 2013 and both clubs are committed to keeping his memory alive with the staging of the game each summer.
Nathan Curtis fires Ossett Town ahead. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Action from Hemsworth Miners Welfare 1-3 Ossett Town
New Ossett midfielder Luke Gordon closes down Hemsworth captain Jason Yates
Chris Ovington causing problems for Hemsworth
Despite it being their first game back in action, the Evo Stik Division One North side had total control after just 20 minutes.
A defensive mistake allowed Curtis to past goalkeeper Matthew Lees and score the opener.
The former Bradford City player then headed home from Chris Ovington’s superb cross to increase the lead.
Ossett seemed comfortable until Connolly’s bolt out of the blue – a free kick that landed directly in Ossett goalkeeper Ciaran Gibson’s top right-hand corner.
Hemsworth caused Ossett a few hairy moments, but the visitors held out and mounted pressure at the other end in the final few minutes.
Young Josh Whiteley’s free kick hit the post before some excellent work from Calum Hepworth down the left saw him cross for Frankland to score a simple tap-in.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Lees, Wilson, Clark, Swift, Tonks, Steers, Crapper, Yates, Connolly, Blair, Kemp. Subs: Dixon, Pleasants, Gregg, Huly, Barraclough.
Ossett Town: Morgan, Lucas, Jeff (captain), Connor, Wood, Merris, Gordon, Akeroyd, Curtis, Ovington, Quinlan. Subs: Payne, Pashley, Exton, Hepworth, Whiteley, Frankland, Smith, Gibson.
Referee: Gareth Thomas
Attendance: 104