Ilkley clinch the title and make it double joy

A great result for the Booth's sponsored Ilkley FC that placed them in pole position to win the Harrogate Senior League Premier Division championship. This was confdirmed when their nearest rivals Pannal lost 4-0 at Pateley Bridge.

So it is a double 'double' for Ilkley FC - both first and reserve teams having won win league and cup.

In the presence of a large crowd, keen to see the senior team mirror the double-winning achievements of the Ilkley Reserves, and under pressure to win and thwart Pannal's spirited late spurt for the title, Ilkley took time to settle but eventually turned on the style and demolished opponents who had resisted valiantly for 70 minutes.

Ilkley made their customary slow start allowing Beckwithshaw striker Atkinson a low shot at Bainbridge and the Ilkley goalkeeper twice kicked clear to relieve pressure on the home defence.

Thankfully, Ilkley began to gather collective momentum with much of the play developing through Tweddle and James Wilson on the right flank. A Wilson cross was bravely gathered by visiting 'keeper McKenzie before the goalkeeper saved well from Hall's shot on the turn and Giles' shot from 18 yards.

The visitors found it difficult to mount attacks but were resolute in defence especially against a home team which seemed to be sluggish after the extra-time cup victory at the weekend.

Beckwithshaw still found it hard to exert any pressure on the Ilkley defence well marshalled by Williams and Bloom, but the sluggishness in Ilkley's play saw several promising moves delayed by slow passing or movement.

Top-scorer Hoyle shot over the bar when he wriggled through after exchanging passes with Hall, and McKenzie tipped over a header from Hall before the breakthrough came on 35 minutes.

A move down the right saw Wilson combine with Tweddle, for the young full-back to deliver a long cross for Hoyle to climb above Swales and McKenzie to loop a header into the unguarded net.

A goal to settle the nerves perhaps and one that might have been added to before half-time as Hall and Hoyle both forced the overworked McKenzie to make diving saves.

However, the visitors held out to keep the pressure on the home side and forced the early pace in the second-half with midfielders Atkinson and Berryman maintaining possession well, despite the challenges of Knox and Giles.

Another goal was needed by Ilkley but McKenzie was in good form to save a Hoyle shot with his legs and collect a Richardson cross with confidence. With Stockdale finding it difficult to get going after his exertions in the cup final, Hogg was introduced after 55 minutes and became the catalyst for Ilkley's resurgence.

The young starlet who has experienced first team action at Guiseley, showed his quality when he surged past Lind and fed the ball to Giles. From the skipper's square pass across the goal area, Hoyle managed to side-foot the ball past McKenzie for the second Ilkley goal and the one that broke the valiant resistance.

At 2-0 against opponents who had defended well but offered little in attack beyond Swales's far-post header from a corner, Ilkley players grew in confidence and in the final 20 minutes score five goals to record a convincing if flattering score-line.

Hogg was the perpetrator of the late goal glut as he tormented the tiring Lind with his pace and touch.

With a deft pass he sent Hall running free to drive the ball past McKenzie after 75 minutes and was set to receive Knox's through pass when Swales handled in the box.

The League's top-scorer Dale Hoyle converted the penalty to record his ninth hat-trick of the season.

Hogg then outpaced the Beckwithshaw defence during a swift break and his square pass into the penalty-area was gleefully blasted home by Braithwaite from 12 yards. The indefatigable

Knox then dribbled past two defenders and crashed the ball past the despairing McKenzie as Beckwithshaw's brave fight capitulated, before Hoyle completed the scoring on 85 minutes when he combined with Rick Wilson to drill the ball into the net after side-stepping Swales.

A comprehensive final score but one that was hard-earned as Beckwithshaw competed with spirit and resolve for over an hour.

The determination and desire of the Ilkley players grew throughout the game as they recorded an unbeaten 2003 league programme.

The Ilkley team has shown high quality throughout the season with memorable cup games against Guiseley and Horsforth St Margarets to complement league and cup victories against all leading opponents.