IlkleyYouth......2

Waddington.......0

Four consecutive wins for the Guyson sponsored Ilkley Juniors Youth after a dazzling team performance against championship rivals Waddington.

Cold, wet and windy practice nights at Ben Rhydding bore fruition on a glorious Spring

afternoon as Ilkley Youth players dominated and controlled the game from the first whistle. First to the ball, decisive in the tackle and passing with precision and tempo, Ilkley Youth players were justly rewarded with goals from the Burley-boys Andrew Wheeler and Jon Keith.

Following last Saturday's goal within 90 seconds, David Stewart almost provided an even quicker boost for Ilkley when he side-footed over the bar from 12-yards after just 40-seconds.

Undeterred by this miss, Stewart turned provider when he skipped past the full-back and from his cross Bedford and Martin had shots blocked, before Keith saw his close range stab held by the Waddington goalkeeper.

Still undaunted, Martin and Keith just failed to capitalise on another break with the goalkeeper again getting in the way of Keith's final shot. Three chances in the first ten minutes, before Ilkley Youth goalkeeper Taylor had touched the ball. However, he was alert to kick clear after a long clearance and marshalled his defenders well when Waddington forced a couple of corners.

A near-post header from one corner was the only strike at goal by a Waddington player in the first-half, and with Beaumont confidently shackling a speedy wing player it was with increasing desperation that Waddington repelled Ilkley's attacks.

Stewart's firm header scorched the bar from Wheeler's corner before role-reversal saw Ilkley take the lead.

Rishworth, Martin and Keith combined to set Stewart racing clear down the right wing and from his low cross Wheeler stole in front of a defender to push the ball past the goalkeeper with his right-foot.

Hard as they tried, Waddington could not make in-roads into Ilkley territory with any sustained possession.

Centre-backs David Dixon and Mark Houlston dominated any challenges, giving attackers little room and setting the tempo and attitude for the team's display. Joe McTigue covered well and

nullified any right-wing threat, and Paul Rishworth maintained his recent spell of good form by competing for

From this solid platform, the Ilkley Youth team produced some of the best passing football of the season and held a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Sometimes, coaches do not want to have a half-time break because it disrupts the tempo of a team's performance but Ilkley Youth players dispelled

any such concern by maintaining a high quality of passing and movement in the second-half.

However, Waddington played a five-man defence and made it more difficult for Ilkley to penetrate as easily as in the first-half. This restricted Waddington's attacking force and Ilkley goalkeeper Taylor was a spectator for long periods, and did not have a direct strike at goal to save in the second half.

Testimony to revitalised and composed defending by Beaumont, Dixon, Houlston and McTigue.

Richard Martin and Andy Bedford maintained forward pressure on wilting defenders, and Rishworth and Keith wrestled control of midfield. This allowed Wheeler and McTigue to combine well on the left.

Two crosses just eluded Ilkley forwards. With Stewart';s right-wing marauding forcing Waddington's danger man Sutcliffe to play at left-back and Houlston willing to step forward to challenge the roving inside-forward, Ilkley Youth's control of the game made a 1-0 score-line appear manageable.

After repelling a brief flurry of long-throws by Waddington, the introduction of Campbell saw the game signed sealed and delivered.

As Wheeler broke out of defence, Campbell peeled wide to receive the ball and then pushed the ball forward into the path of Keith who surged past the last defender with a typical kick off the last bend and placed the ball wide of the helpless goalkeeper.

A classic counter-attack goal which sealed a well-deserved victory.

This was a game that was a positive advert for Craven League Division Three football played with fairness and commitment and aided by a very good referee.

David Dixon gained the Man-of-the-Match award for another intelligent display of defending, and every Ilkley Youth player made a successful contribution to an excellent team performance.

l On Saturday, Ilkley Youth travel to Bronte Wanderers (KO 2.30pm).

Skipton Town......0

Ilkley Youth.......3

On the previous Wednesday evening, Ilkley Youth travelled to play Skipton Town and earned a hard-fought 3-0 victory.

After taking the lead with a dipping volley by Stewart, bumpy and windy conditions caused the game to lack any rhythm and Ilkley Youth overcame some robust challenges to hold a 1-0 half-time lead.

Without wind advantage, Skipton found it difficult to develop any attacks and it was only a matter of time before Ilkley Youth cashed in on territorial domination.

This against a team who once again put more energy into senseless appealing and personal verbal abuse than moving around the pitch.

With the introduction of debutant and former Guiseley Academy player Tom McMahon as substitute, Ilkley Youth began to exploit space in wide positions.

McMahon fashioned three chances to score before Richard Martin broke his lean spell with a blockbuster shot from 25-yards to increase Ilkley's lead.

The result was put beyond doubt when Richardson whacked in another 25-yarder with ten-minutes to go.

This was long enough for Taylor to make a fine diving save from a rare Skipton break as Ilkley players sought to avoid the consequences of increasingly rash challenges, which disappointingly went unquestioned by a lenient and inconsistent referee.

Richard Martin gained a well-deserved Man-of-the-Match award for brave and determined attacking, and a fine goal.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.