Improved Ilkley Youth draw

Settle...........................2

The Guyson sponsored Ilkley Juniors Youth team gave a much-improved performance on Saturday, yet still only gained a disappointing draw against lowly placed Settle.

For the fourth game in five outings, the opposition's first team was without a game and as a consequence the reserves fielded an improved side containing few players who played against Ilkley Youth earlier in the season.

Despite some under par displays, Ilkley Youth should take encouragement from coping well in such adverse situations.

At last, Ilkley Juniors started brightly, scoring an excellently worked goal within the first ten minutes. David Stewart expertly skipped past the challenge of the Settle full-back and delivered a pin-point cross for Joe Horn to head his 19th goal of the season, powerfully into the roof of the net.

Playing with the wind in the first-half, Ilkley continued to create chances with David Stewart firing narrowly wide after a well worked passing move with Paul Rishworth, and Horne seeing his stab at goal deflected for a corner after a surging run.

From one of several Andy Wheeler corners resulting from Ilkley Youth pressure, David Dixon's header at the far post was unfortunately directed at the Settle goalkeeper, and a storming run by Antony Beaumont saw his 20 yard screamer whistle past the goalkeeper and clip the far post.

Peter Tod, captain for the game, set an excellent example to his teamates by working tirelessly in midfield and he too, along with striker Richard Martin tested the opposition goalkeeper with well struck shots.

Unfortunately, as is so often the case when dominating possession, it was a lapse of concentration that allowed Settle to draw level on the counter attack just before half-time. Settle's left winger ran onto a rare through ball and sweetly struck a low drive, across Ilkley goalkeeper Peter Taylor to bring the half-time score to 1-1.

Against the wind in the second-half, the Ilkley Youth defence had to contend with a repetition of long balls booted downfield by Settle defenders. It was a more assured defensive display with Mark Houlston and Joe McTigue being especially commanding in the air. Ilkley's back four were much

improved in the second-half, living up to their normally high standards, by being first to the ball and winning more 50-50 challenges against very competitive Settle forwards.

Jonathon Keith, replaced Rishworth in midfield with the instruction to play longer passes to the wings, and it was he who started an attacking move then raced into the penalty-area to head the ball wide of the post, when unmarked. Ilkley Youth continued to create more chances with substitute Andy Bedford shooting narrowly wide when released by a Tod pass.

Ilkley Youth deservedly regained the lead with another flowing move. Anthony Beaumont sent David Stewart racing free down the right and his cross was narrowly missed by Horne in the box, only for Graham Richardson, who had replaced Wheeler, to volley in from six yards.

A few minutes later, Richardson was denied another goal when his identical effort was disallowed after a handball spotted by the referee.

Sixty-seconds later, Settle equalised when a clearance was allowed to bounce over the top of the Ilkley defence and was latched onto by one of their forwards, who proceeded to beat Taylor in a race for the ball and lifted it over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Rough justice and a severe reminder that a team is at its most vulnerable just after scoring a goal. The remainder of the game saw Settle hang on for a creditable draw having battled hard to withstand Ilkley pressure and turning three chances into two goals.

Overall it was an improved performance by Ilkley Youth from the previous week, although continued hard work and commitment in practice is required if Ilkley Youth players are to regain the promise of their earlier league form.

Man-of-the-Match was awarded for an assured display of defending to David Dixon. The league's leading scorer Joe Horne and Ilkley's longest serving player Peter Tod now embark on their world-wide travels and provide yet more youth players with an opportunity to experience senior football.

l On Saturday Ilkley entertain McBrides FC at the Grammar School fields (Kick-off 2.30pm).

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