Earby........................1

Ilkley Youth..........2

A well-deserved away victory against third-placed Earby for the Guyson sponsored Ilkley Juniors Youth team that keeps them at the top of the Craven League Division Three.

More significantly, the Ilkley Youth side produced a skilful, disciplined and determined performance against an increasingly physical home side. The Ilkley Youth side came out of the blocks sharply and in marked contrast to the normal somnambulant beginning to a game. Only 90 seconds had elapsed when a slick interchange of passes by Martin and Rishworth set David Stewart scampering through and he confidently tucked the ball past the home goalkeeper to give Ilkley Youth an encouraging early lead.

It took Earby 20 minutes to pose any threat near the Ilkley penalty-area during which time Ilkley Youth were unfortunate not to add to the score. Keith had a goal disallowed for off-side, Martin saw his front post flick brilliantly saved by Sargeant and Wheeler blazed over from the edge of the box.

Earby were solely reliant on long clearances forward and found Beaumont, Dixon, Houlston and Joe McTigue back to their organised and determined best.

Goalkeeper Taylor was alert and dealt competently with some long hopeful punts and he did not have a shot to save in the first-half. Nevertheless, Earby players were prepared to throw themselves about on a surface freshened by a sharp rainstorm and the Youth players competed with equal vigour when the need arose. Normally, they were sharper to the ball with Rishworth and Keith particularly combative in midfield.

After a brief flurry of Earby pressure, a break by Wheeler saw his early through ball reach Martin and his determined run held off an opponent before his shot was tipped over by the Earby 'keeper to register another excellent save.

Despite domination of ball possession, with Stewart giving his full-back a torrid afternoon, the score remained 1-0 at half-time, and the greasy and bumpy surface always offered encouragement for the home team.

The second-half followed the pattern of the first, with Ilkley having better possession and territorial supremacy but unable to capitalise on several penalty-area chances. Bedford's close-range shot was blocked, Martin and Stewart saw shots hit the 'keeper's legs, and Earby's defending became more and more desperate and robust. The only way Earby seemed likely to score was from an Ilkley mistake or a slice of good fortune, and it was the latter that caused the equaliser in the 70th minute.

Rishworth was clearly pushed in the back as he challenged for a header and with the referee raising his whistle to his mouth but deciding not to blow it, Ilkley players stopped for a few seconds as the ball fell to an Earby forward whose low shot skidded into Taylor and the rebound popped up fortuitously for the same player to head into the open goal.

A momentary lapse in concentration punished cruelly when the game should already have been beyond the reach of the home team, and typical of the recent fortune of the Youth team. However, adhering to the belief that teams make their own luck, with renewed effort, and the introduction of Campbell and Richardson, Ilkley Youth responded magnificently and surged forward to force a series of corners. As Richardson's corner arched it's way towards the penalty-area it was fitting that Paul Rishworth powered forward to plant a firm header inside the far-post to win the game for Ilkley Youth. A reward for an inspiring midfield display by the captain and

no more than Ilkley Youth deserved.

Clearly deflated and physically drained, Earby players sought to kick anything within reach and an ineffectual referee did little to discourage this form of play. This was typified when Earby posted every player in the Ilkley Youth penalty-area at a late corner and, as the ball was cleared, the Earby goalkeeper took retribution on two Ilkley players, and with Martin advancing towards the untended Earby goal he was scythed down by the last defender. Neither action provoking any response by the referee. A diving save by Taylor witnessed the end of Earby's late flurry of activity and Ilkley Youth recorded a well-deserved victory. David Stewart gained the man-of-the-match award for a typically marauding display and Paul Rishworth led by example throughout.

l On Saturday, Ilkley Youth entertain Waddington (2.30pm) in another top-of-the-table clash at the Grammar School fields.

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