Ilkley AFC 1

St Margaret's 2

"We escaped from jail and we didn't deserve to," said Horsforth manager Thompson as his side scored the winning goal in the final minute of extra-time of a thrilling Wharfedale Challenge Cup semi-final.

Fine words of consolation but no real comfort to Ilkley who had matched high-flying Horsforth for commitment and football and counted themselves unfortunate not to win the game in 90 minutes as Horsforth equalised from a dubiously awarded penalty with only five minutes of normal time to play.

In excellent playing conditions at West Holmes both sides showed signs of rustiness early on after two weeks of inaction. The first corner saw Horsforth throw the heavyweights forwards only to find Ilkley 'keeper Smith make the first of several positive catches. Despite being without Richardson, Trimnell, Knox and Wilson Ilkley began to play the more incisive passing football and Hoyle and Hall both forced Bramhill into close range saves. Hoyle's free-kick whistled over and Hughes almost connected with Giles' corner.

Relying on early long balls forward to Lamb and the lively Metcalf, Horsforth responded with a spell of pressure and forced three corners. Smith punched clear from two and Hughes cleared under pressure at the far post. Horsforth's defence was never comfortable against the pace of Ilkley's front-runners and conceded several free-kicks to disrupt Ilkley.

From one of these, Bramhill pulled off a marvellous save with Hogg's shot was bound for the top corner. At the other end, Metcalf's darting run past Williams saw Smith block his close range shot and the 'keeper foiled another low drive from Currie. Though the Horsforth midfield worked hard to pick up the loose balls, finding a way through the Ilkley defence proved problematic all afternoon, with Bloom dominating Lamb, and full-backs Braithwaite and Tweddle shackling the wide-players.

Horsforth's likeliest source of a goal was from corners and as the half closed a loose elbow into Steve Hall's face during a Horsforth corner showed the extent of the visitor's frustration. Thankfully, the only ugly incident in a game well refereed by Mr Houldsworth.

The second-half saw much of the same with Ilkley thwarting all Horsforth's efforts, matching them tackle for tackle and causing problems with fast breaks forwards. Stockdale almost broke the deadlock after 55 minutes when he burst past three defenders and saw Hamer block his shot. Hall shot straight at Bramhill after good link up play with Hoyle, and Hughes saw his low shot on the turn kicked off the line by Thompson. With Lamb and Metcalf losing the battle against Williams and Bloom, Horsforth continued to find aerial set-pieces into the Ilkley penalty-area as the most likely source of a goal chance.

Ilkley 'keeper Smith had much less to do in the second-half but came out alertly to dive at Metcalf's feet before Ilkley deservedly took the lead after 65 minutes.

Breaking up a Horsforth attack Bloom, drilled the ball into the channel for Hall to evade his marker and burst clear before driving a low shot into the corner past Bramhill. An excellent strike by the Ilkley forward and almost matched by Stockdale two minutes later as he collected from Hogg and hit the base of the post from a narrow angle.

With legs tiring, Rishworth entered the fray to bolster the Ilkley midfield and Hoyle pushed forward.

This move almost paid immediate dividends as the Ilkley top scorer saw his far-post header hit Bramhill and be scrambled clear after Hogg's deep cross. With time running out, Horsforth got a lucky break when a bouncing ball on the far-edge of the Ilkley area hit Currie's arm and rolled along Hogg's shoulder and arm on it's way to the touchline.

The referee decided to see Hogg's handball not Currie's and Horsforth equalised from the penalty spot.

Extra-time saw both teams create few chances with legs getting weary and neither side wanting to concede a goal by being over-adventurous. Ilkley defended and worked together tremendously well, with Tweddle and Bloom outstanding. Hogg's surges forward became a prominent source of attack and the youngster was the target for several reckless challenges.

With both sets of players counting down the seconds to the cruelty of penalty-kicks, an even crueller twist for Ilkley as Metcalf wriggled clear of tired players and his clipped cross was headed in by Hamer. No time for Ilkley to respond as the whistle blew within a minute .

Ilkley had performed magnificently and earned the respect of a team that play four levels above them in the FA non-league pyramid.

l On Saturday Ilkley entertain Addingham in the Harrogate Senior Cup (KO 1.30pm). Meet at 12.30pm.