Burley Trojans 1, Ilkley AFC 1
A scrambled Simon Tweddle goal two minutes from time saved a point for champions Ilkley and denied Trojans a derby victory.
On balance neither side could have any complaint about sharing the spoils. Ilkley may have dominated possession but they failed to create any clear cut chances and Trojans' Stuart Dibb was largely responsible for keeping them at bay.
The young centre-half has been a transfer target for Ilkley in the summer and he showed just what they have missed out on as he shackled danger man Dale Hoyle and marshalled his defence superbly.
In midfield Nick Quaife, on his return to Burley following his close season switch to Ilkley, was subdued and his replacement Chris Lloyd ensured that he had little influence on proceedings.
Trojans were first to show and centre- forward Craig Renton latched on to a Chris Lloyd pass to fire a left foot snapshot just over with Ilkley 'keeper Bainbridge beaten. Renton then set up Jonny Lofthouse whose effort was deflected wide.
Ilkley flattered to deceive and Trojans' 'keeper Chris Hargreaves was not called upon to make a save of note in the first-half. A wayward Hoyle header from Tweddle's cross was the visitors' only real effort of note.
Trojans went closest to breaking the deadlock on the half hour when Dave McKain met Phil Constantine's inswinging corner forcing Bainbridge into a smart save as his header arrowed towards the top corner.
The half ended with Lofthouse breaking free however no one could get on to the end of his teasing ball across the face of goal.
The visitors began to turn the screw after the break and Tweddle tried his luck from distance before Hoyle sent a looping header just wide.
The big centre-forward also headed over when Chris Mynett set him up as Trojans were forced to defend.
The stalemate was finally broken on the hour when Renton and Lofthouse combined on the right to cause panic in the Ilkley defence.
Tweddle and Bainbridge got in a tangle and the ball ran loose to Dave McKain and he coolly slotted the ball home from the edge of the area.
It was backs to the wall for Trojans as Hoyle had three headed chances and then Tweddle headed straight at Hargreaves. Referee Barlow, whose decisions had frustrated Trojans all evening, saw fit to caution Chris Lockwood, James Hoskin and Lloyd for comments made to him, however all three can feel aggrieved at their fate.
Just as it looked like Trojans would hold out to claim all three points a right wing corner was not properly dealt with and Tweddle pounced to knock in the loose ball.
Games of football are won by teams putting the ball in the net and Ilkley failed to take the many chances on offer, while Burley's back four and goalkeeper showed determination and teamwork to defend the penalty-area during a siege.
Dibb was Man-of-the-Match for Trojans
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