Athletic underlined their status as league champions with this victory over close rivals Stanbury. Stanbury were the early season front runners in the title race, but they have badly struggled for form since Christmas.
Steve Kernan powered home a cracking header to put Athletic in front but Stanbury soon equalised with a cracker of their own. Exciting young Athletic midfielder Rob Wall then began to run the show and in the space of minutes smashed home two almost identical 25 yard strikes. In the second half Athletic should have put the game beyond doubt but Wall missed a penalty and when Stanbury's Neil Rollins scored with five minutes to go, they were back in the game. It was Athletic who had the last word however, as Jamie Smith calmly slotted home to complete a sucessful season.
14/4/05 Long Lee Druids 2 Keighley Athletic 4
Athletic wrapped up the Keighley Sunday Alliance Premier Division title for the second successive season with this hard fought win over Long Lee Druids. Athletic have not dropped a single point since the beginning of October but they had to be at their best to overcome a battling Druids side.
Mick Goodwin gave Athletic the lead as he leapt highest to power home a corner, Jason Brewer soon equalised with a fine effort before Paul Goodwin restored Athletic's lead with a smashing 25-yard strike. Early in the second half Brewer once again equalised for the Druids before defender Martin Ryan scored the goal of the game for Athletic; exchanging passes with Dave Ellis and running fully 50 yards through the Druids defence before finishing with aplomb. Soon afterwards the Druids were reduced to ten men as Dave Bennett was sent off for dissent and when Ellis nodded home the resulting free kick the game and ultimately, the title, belonged to Athletic.
3/4/05 Keighley Athletic 3 Long Lee Druids 0
Athletic moved into top spot with a comfortable victory over Long Lee. Two early Paul Goodwin goals were the catalyst and once Jason Brewer had been sent off for Long Lee, Athletic moved into a second half comfort zone, which culminated in a sweeping move, finished off with aplomb by Steve Kernan
13/3/05 Keighley Athletic 1 New Variety Club 1 (AET, Variety win 5-4 on pens)
Holders Athletic had to swallow the bitter pill of semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat as New Variety triumphed in the Jeff Hall cup. Variety took an early lead through Mark Westfall and it took a goalkeeping error to allow Paul Goodwin to equalise for Athletic. Athletic took control of the game and had a late Rob Wall effort controversially disallowed.
Extra time ensued with the Variety defence holding firm to force penalties; the first eight all went in before Stewart Nicholson's tame effort was saved by the Variety keeper. Adam Ackroyd then stepped up for Variety and his scuffed effort sent keeper Heath Maddocks the wrong way, sparking wild celebrations from the Variety team.
13/2/05 Keighley Athletic 9 Three Horses 0
This could have been a close game between Athletic and a Three Horses team who have previously been something of a bogey side for the home team. The Horses were short of several players though and did well to get to half-time trailing to a solitary Gareth Peace strike, they were completely overwhelmed however by Athletic's second half display as Steve Kernan and Paul Goodwin both struck hat-tricks and Tom Whitwham and Dave Ellis also got in on the act. Kernan took the man-of-the-match award for Athletic with Bentham the pick of the Three Horses line-up.
6/2/05 New Variety Club 1 Keighley Athletic 3
Athletic closed in on leaders Variety with a hard fought win at Holy Family. Tom Whitwham stroked in first for Athletic with Mark Westfall heading the Variety equaliser. Athletic stamped their authority on the game in the second half with Paul Goodwin cracking home a belter to put them ahead and then nodding home a decisive second soon after.
30/1/05 Keighley Athletic 3 Stanbury Park Rangers 2 (A.E.T)
This was an epic cup tie between two very closely matched teams, played out in inhospitable conditions at a gale swept Marley.
Stanbury are a strong, pacy, skillful side but cup holders Athletic posess similar attributes and a ding-dong battle ensued: Craig Labbatt's classy chip gave Stanbury an early lead but Athletic soon pulled level when the diminutive Steve Kernan leapt highest to head home the equaliser. Chances came and were squandered and with Heath Maddocks excelling in the Athletic goal it took a touch of class from Dave Nelson to restore Stanbury's lead right on the half time whistle, as he waltzed through and calmly slotted home.
In the second half Athletic slowly began to take control with the dangerous Paul Goodwin pulling the strings in the midfield and the evergreen Stewart Nicholson holding things together at the back. It was no great surprise then when the pace of Goodwin propelled him into the Stanbury area and his fizzing drive restored parity. Athletic could have won the game in normal time when Alex Familio found himself one-on-one with Ellis in the Stanbury goal, but his lifted effort cleared both goalkeeper and the crossbar.
Extra time was a tired affair with the prospect of penalties playing on the mind of both sides. It was not to be: With a handful of minutes left on the clock Goodwin registed his second with a looping, deflected effort from the edge of the box. Athletic were ebullient, Stanbury were in despair.
23/1/05 Keighley Athletic 2 Victoria Hotel 1
Athletic were expecting an easy morning against a lowly Vic side but were soon to realise that their opponents, fielding a strong side, were not going to roll over easily.
On a frosty surface a ding-dong battle ensued, highlighted perfectly in the physical clashes between the Vic's Tony Cooper and Mick Goodwin and Dave Ellis in the Athletic defence. Athletic overall had the better chances and Steve Kernan and Paul Goodwin were guilty of missing several. It was perhaps unsurpsrising therefore that the opening goal came from an unlikely source, Athletic debutant Danny Newton, curling home from 18 yards. Kernan swiftly atoned for his earlier misses with an excellent chipped second yet the Vic soon pulled one back and the closing seconds were tense as they come.
19/12/04 Keighley Athletic 3 Three Horses 5
I wasnt there and neither were a few others, most notably Heath Maddocks: Nicholson's replacement keeper was game for a laugh though and a couple of his clangers were the difference between the sides. Paul Goodwin, Dave Ellis and Steve Kernan struck for Athletic.
12/12/04 Keighley Athletic 3 Bingley Harvesters 0
An open game with plenty of opportunities for both teams ended with Athletic running out relatively comfortable winners. The Keighley-side enjoyed much the better of the first period, being virtually encamped in the Bingley half. Chances came and were squandered and the sides went in all square at the interval with Bingley still well and truly in the game.
The turning point came early in the second-half when Athletic scored two quick goals. Firstly, Paul Goodwin fired home after a defensive mistake; then Dave Ellis looped in an excellent long-range header following Goodwin�s pinpoint cross. Bingley rallied and Heath Maddocks in the Keighley goal made a couple of superb stops from Nelson and Hinds. It was Steve Kernan however, who wrapped up proceedings; nodding home Jamie Smith�s corner.
5/12/04 Buttershaw White Star 3 Keighley Athletic 2
Athletic disappointedly exited the County Cup after a below-par performance in Bradford. A very difficult surface played into the hands of the physical home side and they took an early lead after Heath Maddocks let the ball spill through his fingers. Athletic came back strongly and swift goals by Rob Wall and Steve Kernan gave them a half-time lead, which should have been more commanding. Buttershaw then upped a gear in the second half, launcing numerous high balls into the Athletic area. The defence couldnt cope, and two headed goals followed.
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