Ilkley disappointing at Boroughbridge

A DISAPPOINTING result for Ilkley at championship contenders Bororughbridge but a much improved performance that received plaudits from the watching Harrogate League Chairman.

Belated Saturday morning loss of experienced players and yet more holiday commitments did not bode well as Ilkley were forced to assemble a makeshift squad.

However, this gave the opportunity for new players to show their mettle and it was Ilkley who forced the pace in the initial exchanges.

Nick Crowther and Chris Mynett found space well and made full use of a wide pitch as Ilkley attacked down the flanks.

Shots by Crowther, Cummings and Giles were blocked by desperate defenders and Smith almost conjured a shooting opportunity in the penalty-area when well placed.

With the home side finding it hard to gain possession, it was Ilkley who produced some quick and well-balanced passing moves. Giles and Hall commanded the midfield area, and full-backs Hannaford and Taylor linked well with the wide-players to add extra pressure on Boroughbridge.

Occasional breaks by Boroughbridge were stiffled by Andy Bloom, and Matthew Lake had little to do in the Ilkley goal.

It was reward for territorial domination and collective determination that saw Ilkley take the lead when Crowther's pressure forced a hasty clearance by the home goalkeeper and Cummings swivelled quickly to strike the loose ball into the far corner from the edge of the penalty-area.

A period of pressure by Boroughbridge forced two corners but the home team failed to create a clear scoring chance and Ilkley continued to keep possession well.

One moment of indecision however brought the scores level on the stroke of half-time, when a long free-kick drifted over the Ilkley defence and with Lake and Bloom waiting for each other to clear the danger a Boroughbridge player nipped between them to prod the ball into the net.

The second-half was almost a repeat of the first as Ilkley continued to pass well and the home crowd began to berate their players as they chased the ball around the pitch.

Boroughbridge found it difficult to maintain any controlled possession but sporadic charges forward always posed a potential threat and another moment of indecision gifted the home team a second goal against the run of play after 60 minutes.

Lack of pressure on the edge of the penalty-area allowed a pass to be played behind the Ilkley defence and an unmarked Bororghbridge player side-stepped Lake before pushing the ball into the unguarded net.

The injured Taylor was replaced by Daley, and some shape was sacrificed as Ilkley pushed for the equaliser.

At the final whistle, relieved Boroughbridge players knew they were fortunate to win the game and Ilkley players can take comfort from the performance if not the result.

On Saturday, Ilkley travel to Wetherby Athletic (kick-off 1pm) and players should meet at the Cricket Club car park at 11.20am.

Ilkley Youth...0 Colne CC .... 1

PLAYING in the League Cup last Saturday the Guyson-sponsored Ilkley Youth suffered their first defeat of the season against opposition from two divisions higher.

Ilkley fielded a much changed side after losing Dixon, Stone, McTigue and Martin to university and Jon Kerth through injury; which allowed Bedford and McTigue to return and a debut for McCulloch.

Colne took the lead on 20 minutes when missed tackles in midfield allowed a threaded ball into the area which was finished neatly.

A goal behind and a sudden jolt for the Ilkley players who responded by playing some good passing from Richardson, Tod and Bedford on the left, only resulting in a cross to elude Horne and Stewart. A Houlston free-kick then found Stewart in space wide on the right whose cross was unable to be met by Horne or Bedford.

The second-half began with Ilkley playing the better football yet still lacking the urgency shown in previous games.

Colne created little despite the hard work of their forwards who were watched carefully by Beaumont and the competitive McTigue, enabling Taylor to mop up any errant through balls.

Ilkley's best chance to equalise came when a magnificent Houlston free-kick found Stewart at the far post behind the defence. His cross was met by a stretching Rishworth whose header missed by inches.

McCulloch and Crowther were added to the fray to bring fresh legs to the attacking play and the last ten minutes saw Ilkley lay siege to the Colne goal to little effect.

Peter Taylor continued his excellent start to the season and was man-of-the-match.

Mark Houlston, Paul Rishworth and Joe Horne all gave hard-working performances and Matthew Trimnell had a good second-half.

l On Saturday Ilkley travel to Lotherside to resume their league campaign and will need to be more competitive in their approach if the momentum built earlier in the season is not to be lost.

Ilkley Juniors Under-17's...4 Pateley Bridge...3

A CURLING free kick two minutes from time by Bill Teasdale capped a superb fight back by Ilkley, who with just over ten minutes to go had been trailing 3-1.

It was Ilkley who took the lead midway through the first half, when Blair hit a dipping shot from well outside the area, into the back of the net.

However, they were unable to dominate, and began to look unstructured as Pateley got back into the game. Two goals in quick succession as a result of defensive mix-ups saw Ilkley go into half-time 2-1 down.

A reshuffle then saw Macdougal replaced with Driver, as Bloom moved to left back and Weir to the left wing.

Although they conceded another soon after the break, they were starting to combine better, with Bloom and Weir pushing well down the left, and Teasdale combining well with Duttine on the right.

Lee Myers, making his debut in goal, was improving as the match went on, and as Ilkley pushed forward, he thwarted Pateley each time they did venture forward.

Dale, and another debutant, Fisk, provided a stronger last line than in the first-half, and Houlston and Blair worked well together in midfield.

Ilkley's second goal came when Weir raced onto Hibbert's ball down the left, and when his cross was fumbled, Driver gratefully blasted home the loose ball.

This spurred Ilkley on, and when Ratcliffe won back the ball twenty-five yards out, he volleyed first time into the top corner to level the scores.

Ilkley then had numerous chances to win it, with Hibbert and Weir both being ruled fractionally offside on occasions, as well as Driver hitting one narrowly wide and Weir shooting just over, but left it to the last and to Teasdale's free kick.

Ilkley Under-16's...1 Bingley. .... 3

FOLLOWING a successful start to the Harrogate League season Ilkley looked forward to the challenge of a West Riding County Cup match, away to Bingley Juniors.

Having weathered long periods in their own half, Ilkley finally managed to hold on to the ball and provide something for Mazurke and Rennolds to work with down the flanks.

Unfortunately, as Ilkley's strike force of Hutchinson and Tod began to see opportunities to score present themselves, it was the home side who broke away up field to open the scoring.

Despite the setback a triple substitution at the interval saw Hibbert, Garlick and Earnshaw add fresh legs as Ilkley juggled the pack to hopefully find a way back into the match.

Again Ilkley had to defend well during the early stages of the half, and resolute defending by Tom Ross-Jones and Ben Jones along with excellent goalkeeping by Peter Healey, gave Ilkley the solid base to take the game to Bingley.

An unfortunate mistake in the Ilkley defence allowed Bingley a less than deserved second goal midway through the half, but within seconds Bingley had digressed yet again on David Todd allowing James Wilson to convert the resulting penalty to set up an exciting finish.

With time now Ilkley's biggest enemy, John Garlick saw his long range drive cannon off the crossbar and amidst the melee in the penalty area Richard Hutchinson narrowly failed to make contact with a diving header at the far post.

Again as Ilkley threw everything at their opponents it was Bingley who wrapped up the match with another counter attacking goal.

Even in defeat Ilkley can be proud of the way they conducted themselves, especially man-of-the-match, Peter Healey and Thomas Rennolds, and Ben Jonesss who collected manager's points.

Ilkley Under-15s ... 4 Pannal Spts...3

AFTER two close games last season with the honours shared Ilkley fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a victory.

The first-half saw Ilkley fail to contend with the ball and within minutes found themselves one goal down.

With the Pannal midfield given time and space to play the ball around Ilkley found themselves unable to get into the game. Every long ball spelt danger and before half-time Ilkley were 2-0 down with a repeat move of the first goal.

With the half-time whistle Ilkley were able to regroup and came out for the second-half determined to put matters right.

From the kick-off Ilkley broke down the right and the low driven cross from O'Donnell was met by Hamill to give Ilkley hope.

In a dramatic turn around with 10 minutes to go Ilkley found themselves 3-2. With almost identical moves Thompson and Hamill gave Ilkley the lead.

Ilkley defended well throughout this period and were unlucky to concede a third when a defensive clearance rebounded off the striker and into the net.

The winner came after good work by Dornan, O'Donnell and Hamill who put in Caddick at the far post who chipped the advancing 'keeper. Man-of-the-Match was Tom Hamill.

Ilkley Under-14's ...3 K Deighton 3

ILKLEY Under-14's got off to a flying start after five minutes when James Davidson ran down the left wing and then crossed superbly for Rytis Macdonald to finish in style.

Then the home side looked on for 30 minutes while Deighton played their passing game.

It was soon 1-1 as the Ilkley defence was caught napping and the 'keeper was rooted.

They went ahead after slack marking at a corner gave the away side a free header. Kirk Deighton could not believe their luck as the Ilkley back four stood like statues and let them in for three.

Richard Sharp worked hard up front but was man marked throughout. However, this created space and Richard Ettenfield ran through the defence to slot home.

Ilkley were now a more determined side as Henderson, Batters, Barnett and Bagshaw shut out any further chance of goals.

Joe Muzurk, who replaced Davidson, battled hard on the right and his good through ball fell again to Richard Ettenfield, who ran at their defence to beat the offside trap then he slipped two defenders and put the ball neatly beyond the 'keeper.

Sharp's marker was replaced by the Deighton's coach. This gave him space to move in and he slipped through and was one v one with the 'keeper but saw the ball slip cruelly just past the post, leaving the score 3-3. Man-of-the-match was Richard Ettenfield for his second-half captain's performance.

Next week Ilkley Under-14's are away to Knaresborough Town, kick-off 11am.

Ilkley Under-10's A...0 Knaresborough Celtic...4

IN torrential rain,Ilkley struggled to contain an early onslaught from the visitors and found themselves two goals down in a matter of minutes as Knaresborough passed neatly from the start.

Anthony Mitchell was unlucky not to pull a goal back on a couple of occasions and chased back well to support his defence.

William Knox always looked dangerous with strong runs from the centre of defence and provided good cover to Adam Flynn and goalkeeeper Mathew Grimes.The second half saw two further Knaresborough goals,the slippy conditions playing their part to frustrate Mathew's brave display in goal, but a sensational tip over the bar from a cracking shot gave him heart.

Man-of-the-match was Anthony Mitchell.

Ilkley Under-10's B...0 Knaresborough Celtic...2

DESPITE the absence of winger Chris O' Connor Ilkley gave their visitors a great game with newcomers George Stevens and Rohan Chatterjee both putting in great debuts.

Ilkley started positively, Stephen Loy and Cameron Borrett passing well and showing great awareness to provide Stephen Bunn with his first scoring chance of the game which he was unlucky not to convert.

William Normington produced some fine goalkeeping with Michael Lader and Paul Kehoe providing strong defence..

A Knaresborough goal just before half time left Ilkley with it all to play for in the second-half.

Stephen Bunn was switched to goalkeeper giving William Normington the challenge of leading the attack.

Knaresborough's second goal came against the run of play.

Man-of-the-match was Cameron Borrett.

Ilkley U9s Reds ..5 Ilkley U9s Blues ..2

THE Blues got off to the better start of the two teams, passing the ball well, their defence keeping the Reds at bay from scoring.

Both teams had a good defence, both performing well, keeping pressure off either 'keeper.

The knowledge both teams had of each other meant they were able to respond quickly in every situation, but as the second half got under way the experience the Reds had gained from last season began to show.

Not to be overshadowed the Blues fought back putting their opponents under pressure several times.

This was a well-contested game and an ideal opportunity for both coaches to take stock of their squad.

Scorers for the Reds were Alex Sinclair, Robbie Caddick and Forest Hamilton (three), his first hat-trick for the team.

Scorers for the Blues were Tom Hunter and Jon Sime.

Man-of-the-match was Forest Hamilton.