If Athletic performances have stagnated in the past few weeks then here was a display to dust off the cobwebs. The home side were on top form against a competent Long Lee Victoria side and built on a strong defensive performance to comfortably take the points. Steve Kernan's prolific goalscoring form continued; his four goals, including one rare headed strike, took his tally for the season to 26. The impressive Jamie Caulfield nodded home the other to bring up Athletic's eighth consecutive league win and with Bocking and Three Horses both suffering defeats, this victory means Athletic move into a prominent position at the top of the league.
26/10/03 Keighley Royal 3 Keighley Athletic 4
Perhaps Athletic's form has deserted them, Royal however, have definitely improved and this third encounter of the season in the Jeff Hall trophy was the tightest of the lot. Athletic again swept ahead through a cracking Steve Kernan strike and when Royal defender Townley headed in to his own net a procession looked to be on the cards. It was not to be, Royal hit back quickly and went in level at half-time. The second-half was a nervy affair, Kernan bagged his second from the spot only for Royal to again equalise. Late-on Alex Familio clinched the victory with a crisp, right-footed strike.
19/10/03 Keighley Royal 1 Keighley Athletic 3
Athletic went through to the next round of the Keighley Cup despite a generally dismal display against Royal. After moving comfortably into a 3-0 first half lead through Steve Kernan (2) and Antonio Familio strikes; chance after chance went begging and the game should have been well and truly settled.
Athletic then literally walked their way through the second-half and if not for some excellent Heath Maddocks saves the result could have been much closer.
12/10/03 Keighley Athletic 14 Fleece 2
Neither team can be overly happy when one arrives with only 9 men but that is exactly how the Fleece of Cullingworth lined up against Athletic and the match was never going to be particularly competitive.
Fleece, to their credit, battled gamely and scored two good first half goals. Unsurprisingly however, Athletic soon got into their stride: Alex Familio and Steve Kernan scored 4 each, Jamie Caulfied hit 2, Antonio Familio, Jamie Smith, a towering Mick Goodwin header and a Tom Whitwam 25-yarder completed the scoring.
5/10/03 Walnut Tree 5 Keighley Athletic 4
Last season's quarter finalist's Athletic fell at the first hurdle of the County Trophy after an entertaining match against Walnut Tree of Wakefield. In a game that constantly ebbed and flowed Athletic may look back to the dying seconds of the first-half as being the turning point: Leading 2-0 through a Steve Kernan strike and an own goal, Athletic defended a string of corners as the referee played an extraordinary amount of stoppage time. From the last of these a scramble resulted in the ball ricocheting off the Athletic post and in the view of the official, just over the line. It was a hammer blow to the Keighley side and Walnut Tree went on to strike two early second half goals in quick succession as the Athletic defence reeled. Without the injured Paul Goodwin, Athletic needed goals from elsewhere- enter Dave Ellis who rose majestically to head Athletic level. Kernan then bagged his second to put them back into the lead. Unfortunately Walnut Tree rallied, and two late goals meant Athletic were out, destined to another season of Trophy disappointment.
29/9/03 Keighley Athletic 7 Keighley Royal 1
Athletic continued their impressive run with another comfortable victory.
A defensive mix-up led to Royal taking an early lead but the home side soon addressed the balance and once again the prolific attacking partnership of Steve Kernan and Paul Goodwin proved irresistible: Goodwin banging in a classy hat-trick and Kernan helping himself to a brace. Adam Burns and an own goal completed the scoring.
21/9/03 Bingley Town 3 Keighley Athletic 5
Athletic secured their fifth league win on the trot with a hard-fought victory over Bingley Town. On a pitch that resembled a beach, Bingley twice took the lead in action-packed first half and Athletic twice restored parity; goals coming from Steve Kernan and Nigel Smith.
Athletic made the best possible start to second half when Kernan swept home his second after a flowing move straight from the kick-off which resulted in the ball in the back of the net without a Bingley player touching it. Athletic were not helped when Stewart Nicholson was sent off for dissent, however they showed excellent resilliance and scored twice more through Jamie Caulfield and Paul Goodwin. Bingley pulled one back very late on, but it was to be scant consolation.
14/9/03 Keighley Athletic 7 Wilsden 0
Another comfortable win for Athletic against a hard-working Wilsden side. The village team had the better of the early exchanges but once Paul Goodwin drilled Athletic into the lead, it was the Keighley side who dominated.
Goodwin went on to score twice more and Steve Kernan also bagged a hat-trick, which added to an own goal, made seven. The game unfortunately ended on a sour note when a Wilsden player suffered a serious arm injury and play was prematurely brought to an end.
