MINOR TEAM

A depleted Castleford side, missing several key players, worked very hard and came away with a much deserved draw from a very physical encounter. Castleford started strongly with Josh Roberts and Thomas Field creating problems for the Craven back line. Mustapha Cham, Daniel Wilkes, Will Wilson and Karl Blackburn continued to create chances and Robert’s strike was well saved by the home ‘keeper as Cas took the game to their opponents. Cas took the lead when Roberts played a delightful pass through the Craven back line and Wilkes raced onto the ball to fire home from just inside the box. Cas quickly extended their lead when Field hit a powerful strike in to the top corner from 20 yards to put them firmly in the driving seat.

Cas continued to dominate thanks to the superbly organised back line of Sean Corbett, Rikki Banks, Andy Lythe and Chris Harwood although ‘keeper Ian Campbell was called upon to produce a couple of excellent one on one saves. Craven hit back before the break when, despite appeals for a foul on the keeper, a cross was converted from close range. Cas were struggling at the start of the second period as injuries forced changes to be made to the system but Campbell was in superb form as he made save after save to keep Craven out. Cas were coming under intense pressure and Craven finally made their hard work count with two scrappy goals to take the lead.

Matty Appleyard and Matty Newitt worked extremely hard to prevent any further pressure from Craven but it was Corbett and Banks who managed to really get a grip of the game and stop the pressure coming Campbell’s way. Corbett smashed a 35 yard free kick which seemed destined for the goal until it drifted onto the bar, Wilson was hacked down in the box when through on goal but no penalty was awarded and Harwood thought he would score a tap in until the assistant’s flag ruled him offside.

It looked like Cas wouldn’t get anything from the game until great work from Harwood provided Wilkes with an opportunity and he chipped the ‘keeper to equalise and give Cas the point their efforts deserved. Blackburn was voted as man of the match but he was pushed all the way by Corbett, Campbell, Wilson and Wilkes.

Castleford Team.

1 Ian Campbell, 2, Sean Corbett, 3, Christopher Harwood, 4, Andrew Lythe, 5, Rikki Banks,

6, William Wilson, 7, Mustapha Cham, 8, Karl Blackburn, 9, Joshua Roberts, 10, Thomas Field,

11, Daniel Wilks, 12, Matty Newitt, 14, Mathew Appleyard. Managers, Mick Slater, David Griffiths

and Ian Griffiths.

The Craven FA team that gave Castleford a good game.

Castleford & District 1 – 3 Keighley District

Squad: Sean Corbett (captain), Ian Campbell, Chris Harwood, Jack Richardson, Andy Lythe, Mustapha Cham, Karl Blackburn, Stef Hurdiss, Danny Wilkes, Josh Roberts, Thomas Field, Rikki Banks, Matt Hallas, Will Wilson, Liam Burton

Castleford felt hard done by at the end of this fixture as, despite a poor first half performance, they felt they had done enough in the second half to come away with at least a point, but a debatable penalty decision in the latter stages of the second period ended their chances in this hard fought encounter.

Cas were slow to get started and had to rely on the centre back partnership of Jack Richardson and Andy Lythe to prevent Keighley penetrating the defensive line whilst full back Chris Harwood was forced to deal with the pressure of two opponents at the same time for long periods. Captain Sean Corbett led by example at the back and constantly covered for his fellow defenders and the un-inspirational midfield as he tried to spark a bit of life into Cas but it was the hard working striker Josh Roberts who really got Cas going as an attacking force.

Roberts started to create chances for Stef Hurdiss and Thomas Field, both having shots blocked, before he went close himself after a very neat turn and trying his luck with an audacious effort which drifted agonisingly wide. Further chances were created following good link up play between Roberts, Mustapha Cham and Danny Wilkes but Keighley hit Cas with a quick counter to take the lead against the run of play.

Karl Blackburn, Hurdiss and Wilkes tried to regain a grip of the game in midfield but Keighley were pressing forward and ‘keeper Ian Campbell was called upon to produce three excellent saves to prevent Keighley extending their lead. Cas looked to be holding the game at 1-0 but when a high ball was allowed to bounce in the Cas area a Keighley striker nipped in to make it 2-0 just before the break.

After the break Cas looked to get back into the game and once again the main threat was Roberts as he created many problems for the Keighley defence, setting up opportunities for Wilkes and Field whilst testing the ‘keeper himself. Campbell was in superb form at the other end, clearing crosses and stopping many shots as the game started to open up before Will Wilson managed to get a grip of the game in midfield.

Cas pulled one back after great individual work from Roberts; holding the ball up he managed to beat two men on the turn and slide a pass through to Field who struck the ball past the away ‘keeper to reduce the arrears. Cas started to dominate the game as Roberts and Wilson continued to run roughshod over the Keighley defence but Field was out of luck as his couple of efforts flew wide. Disaster hit for Cas when the referee awarded a questionable penalty; Lythe had to avoid the official whilst trying to put a challenge in on a Keighley striker but despite protests that no contact was made with the striker, only with the official, the penalty was converted to put Keighley back in the driving seat.

Rikki Banks and Matt Hallas added some much needed fight and creativity for the side as both enabled Cas to look strong in midfield for the first time in the game. Hallas created excellent chances for Wilkes and Field whilst Banks won every challenge and stopped any further Keighley pressure. Unfortunately for Cas it was too late to have a big impact on the game and Keighley held out for the victory.

A number of players failed to really perform for Cas and they struggled to work as part of a team as, except from a few good individual displays, the first half performance was the telling factor in this defeat. Ian Campbell was voted the man of the match and no-one could argue with his superb display, denying Keighley on any number of occasions with fine catches, blocks and one on one saves. The magnificent Roberts, a real attacking threat and creative force for Cas, was second in the voting and the inspirational Corbett, Harwood and Field were the other top performers.

The Team that played Wharfedale.

1. Ian Campbell. 2. Mustapha Cham, 3. Stephen McGuire., 4. Sean Corbert, 5. Rikki Banks, 6. Karl Blackburn, 7. Thomas Field, 8. William Wilson, 9. Joshua Roberts,10. Steffan Hurdes, 11. Daniel Wilks. 12 Matty Hewitt,. 14. Mathew Appleyard, 15. Ryan Hughes 16. Lee Kennedy. The management team. Mick Slater, Dave Griffiths & Ian Griffiths.

The New strip was sponsored by Phil Prosser and the RAF.