Addingham Res..3

Bronte Wand......1

FOLLOWING hot on the heels of their 3-1 win at Skipton Town, where goals came from Peter Smale (2) and Darren Bates, Addingham Reserves notched another win by the same margin. Ilkley Youth manager Dave Houlston must now be looking anxiously over his shoulder as his side crashed again and Addingham took advantage with a win over second-placed Bronte.

This was arguably Addingham's best display of the season as they totally overran Bronte and the win took them leapfrogging from sixth to third place in the table. Ilkley Youth's lead at the top has now been cut to four points.

With enforced changes Scott Walder played in goal with Glynn Collins moving out to left-back to play in his fifth different position this season. A fully charged Addingham started the brighter looking to avenge a poor showing against Bronte earlier in the season. With their first attack Graham Johnson almost opened his account with Jones in goal somehow tipping his meteoric drive over.

Bronte were on the back foot and it was no surprise when Addingham scored in the tenth minute the influential Andy Phillips finding Danny Wells on the right flank. He then showed great vision with his pin-point pass finding Darren Bates whose delicate flick found Sergio Galasso who beat two defenders to slot the ball under the advancing 'keeper.

Addingham then showed total dominance with Parker and Kernick having chances to score but being denied by the 'keeper who then produced the save of the match from a 25 yard Collins drive.

Chance after chance fell for Addingham in the first half hour as they ran Bronte ragged but credit to Bronte as they steadied themselves and began to look dangerous on the break as they began to play the long ball game and push men forward in numbers. Walder however did not have a save to make in the Addingham goal due to the effective defending of centre-Backs Campbell and Phillips.

Realising attack was the best form of defence Bronte started the second-half as Addingham had started the first and it appeared that Addingham's first-half form had deserted them.

Only the resilience of Walder retained Addingham's slender lead until Kernick made a blistering break ghosting past a defender to reach the by-line and cross to the back post for Jez Parker to meet full on and although Jones made a great save Galasso showed great poaching instincts to volley home.

Bronte heads dropped as they realised their chance had gone and Addingham returned to the ascendency playing delightful one touch football. Sunderland, Parker and Bates all had chances to increase the lead but it was left to the hard working Johnson to gain reward for his perseverance with the goal of the match. Five minutes from time Bronte grabbed a consolation goal when Addingham failed to clear a corner. Match point went to Galasso.

Addingham Reserves after a poor start to the season have now hit the form which was expected of them from the start. Eight successive league wins have seen them rise from fifth from bottom to third from top.

Although winning the division might just be out of their reach promotion certainly isn't and if they continue their current form and the two sides above them continue to falter then they could be in with a real shout.

On Saturday they will be looking to move within a point of the leaders when they visit Intake but it could be a potential banana skin for Addingham as Intake are the only side to have beaten them since mid-November putting them out of the League Cup 3-2.

Team from - S Walder, D Williams, D Kelley, D Wells, M Silson, S Vickers, A Phillips, R Campbell, G Collins, D Bates, P Sunderland, M Kernick, J Parker, S Galasso, G Johnson, P Bates, S Mitchell, B Kelly. (Meet at the Swan at 1 pm for a 2.30 pm kick-off).

The first team are at home to Bradley and players should meet at 1.15 pm.

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