Oxenhope Res.........1

Ilkley Youth..........1

Ilkley Youth travelled to Oxenhope for their final away game of the season looking to secure a victory that would see them move a step closer to a second successive title.

With Smith, Beaumont, McCullough and McTigue all missing form last week's starting line-up, Trimnell returned to play in defence, while Todd and Martyn were welcomed back to the side from university and King started up front after recovering from injury.

A 1-1 draw was not the result that Ilkley were hoping for after taking an

early lead but the final score was probably a fair reflection of the game

even though Oxenhope's equaliser came just six minutes from time.

On a sloping surface, seemingly more suitable for mud wrestling than attractive, flowing football, the visitors started brightly using the slope to their advantage. The early pressure was converted into a 1-0 lead when a cross by Richardson, from a quickly taken corner, found an unmarked Sayers who thundered a volley into the net from ten yards.

Ilkley continued to attack, with King in particular looking dangerous up-front, although the end product didn't match the build up with numerous Ilkley players not taking advantage of promising situations. The closest Ilkley came to adding to their lead was when Rishworth saw his diving header hit the foot of the post after an excellent cross from the energetic King.

Attacking up the slope, Oxenhope were limited to counter-attacking football and when the Ilkley defence was called upon they responded well with Trimnell looking particularly impressive at centre-back.

As the half wore on and the pitch became more of a mud bath, the quality of play deteriorated and Ilkley's attacks became less frequent, with possession being contested mainly in the midfield area. Ilkley then inexplicably reverted to playing the ball through the middle of the field rather than the slightly more grassy flanks, where Todd and Stewart had been looking most effective.

This resulted in a scrappy period of play, ultimately forcing an excellent save from Taylor to keep the home team out.

A half-time reshuffle saw the injured Keith replaced by Jordan who went on in attack, with Todd reverting to the centre of midfield and King moving to left-wing. The expected onslaught from the Oxenhope team never quite emerged, although they did produce most of the attacking play, and this time Ilkley had to be content with playing on the counter-attack.

Oxenhope created very few clear-cut chances, but on the occasions they did

attack, Taylor and his back-four managed to hold firm. As at the end of the

first half, much of the play centred around the midfield third of the field

with Ilkley working very hard to protect their goal.

With the heavy pitch beginning to take its toll, Ilkley packed the midfield tucking King into the middle with Todd and Rishworth to add steel to their defensive cause. This enabled a greater share of the possession and nearly resulted in a goal when an impressive move ended up at the feet of Jordan, who missed the target from close-range as the Oxenhope defence yelled for an off-side decision that never came.

It was looking increasingly as though Ilkley were going to hold onto their slim lead with Oxenhope restricted to long-range efforts but with just six minutes remaining a needless free-kick was given away at the edge of the

Ilkley penalty area and the Oxenhope midfielder slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the goal with an excellent strike.

A cruel blow for Ilkley who, in a last-ditch attempt to rescue the win, brought on Dadd and Crowther in place of Martyn and King, but there was little time for them to make any impact on a side buoyed by their late equaliser. Both managers left the field thinking their team should have won but in fairness, a draw was the right result for two teams who did very well to play any sort of football on a diabolical surface.

Ilkley now have three home games in which to clinch the Second Division title, and will be encouraged by a newfound ability to do the ugly things in difficult conditions, as well as playing attractive football on big, flat pitches. A skill that has been lacking on some previous occasions.