With Ash MacGhee and Andy Williams out of the line up plus Ben Inman back on first team duties Fleece 'B' had some shaking up to do with the line up. Tony Simpson, normally a defensive stalwart and after playing well down the right side in the midweek match against Jolly Miller, was chosen to play upfront - a tactical decision that worked well for the first half.
Though 2 minutes from the off Ossett Panthers narrowly fired over the bar with a well hit effort. Fleece were noticeably unsettled in the opening encounters and marginally better football was played by the opposition - better use of space and passing. Too much of Fleece's work was bunched up and lacking composure. The boys though rode their luck and plugged away, rewarded by Tony Simpson picking up on an Andy Sugden spilled shot for his and Fleece's opener on the 20 minute mark.
Some 2-3 minutes later this hard earned goal came unstuck as Craig Kellett was caught out on the edge of the area for Panthers to equalise. True, Kellett did fumble but the nearby defender ought to have called out and gave him a passing option out of danger.

Not to worry too much as within 2 minutes Fleece won a disputed corner and Tony Simpson nodded in the second from some 6-7 yards out. Perhaps if Panthers hadn't been badgering the ref leading up to the corner this wouldn't have happened. Still, Fleece weren't complaining.
Some 4 minutes later Paddy McGarry broke through and chipped the keeper. Fleece were on a roll.

On the half hour Graeme Hardwick knocked in a tidy corner kick for Tony Simpson to nod in an almost carbon copy header for his hat trick and Fleece 4-1 up; players and small crowd ecstatic; Panthers looking savaged. On a warm and sticky afternoon half time couldn't come quick enough - Fleece lads needing a drink and Ossett Panthers needing a break.

The second half saw a different Panthers - definitely more aware of the threat from Simpson and keeping more of an eye out for him. Plus him being an old codger and maybe feeling the pace (although it didn't stop him from trying).
Six minutes in to the second half Fleece struggled to clear in a goalmouth scramble and let in a second for 4-2. Ossett fielded a couple of subs and for some 20 minutes or so it was their turn to be run Fleece ragged. Andy Sugden and Mark Bowden in the midfield and Kellett and Dale in defence, in particular, dug in well and Fleece at least managed to keep the Panthers at bay. Fleece did have their breaks but too often fell in to the offside trap (always an element of luck with only the ref impartial) and a couple of goals disallowed.

The heat and pace of the game had taken its toll and even with young Ryan coming on for Matt Fox and Dave ???? for Hardwick Fleece just couldn't match their first half performance.
With 5 minutes to go Ossett pulled a further goal back from a corner and made for a close run in to the end of the game.
A hard earned 3 points.

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Fleece 'A' lost 3-2 away to Sandal Athletic in a cup match. This after leading 2-1 at the break with goals from Ben Inman and Mark Morgan.
Apparently, Sandal played well and 'deserved' their win.
Fleece 'A' on 43 points and 2 games in hand can now maybe concentrate on maximising their points tally in the final 6 matches and hope Kexboro' (53 points) slip up in a couple of their remaining 4. Or at least haul in AFC Thornhill (46 points) in 2nd.