Boroughbridge 1, Ilkley Town 2: GOAL by debutant Adam Austin clinched a well-earned victory for Ilkley over perennial title contenders Boroughbridge.

In sweltering conditions and on a lush expansive pitch, the Ilkley players showed endeavour and good team shape throughout the game, and merited the season-opening win despite missing some key players through holiday and injury.

Following a keenly contested pre-season victory over Guiseley Acad-emy earlier in the week, it was Ilkley who dominated the first 25 minutes against Boroughbridge.

It came as no surprise when they took the lead. Good pressure in midfield forced Boroughbridge's defenders into a corner from where Smith regained possession close to the by-line.

Wriggling clear of a defender the youngster combined with Hall to set-up Giles who drove the ball crisply past the 'keeper from 18 yards. A well-worked goal that rewarded some bright and purposeful football from Ilkley and was almost added to when Hoyle and Giles both saw shots hit the bar and bounce clear.

At the other end, Merritt in the Ilkley goal was relatively untroubled making a clean catch from a corner and distributing the ball to full-backs at every opportunity.

After a welcome half-time break it was the home team who inevitably pushed forward for an equaliser, chiefly through long clearances from defence.

This tactic eventually lead to an equaliser.

Forbes-Bell squeezed behind Bloom and Trimnell to collect a long through ball and, though his initial shot was blocked by Merritt, the rebound fell kindly for him to poke it once again under Merritt and evade Bloom's despairing goal-line lunge.

It was a scrappy goal that fortunately galvanised Ilkley players into a more determined response for the remainder of the game.

With players tiring, Austin and Keith were introduced for the final 15 minutes as Boroughbridge players began to feel the strain.

Two home players had to retire with cramp as the Ilkley team sought a winner, which came after 80 minutes with a sweetly driven shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards by Austin. The youngster who graduated from the successful reserve side, proved a handful.