Ilkley Youth 8

Cononley 0

NO New Year hangovers for Ilkley Juniors Youth as they completed a league double over a Cononley team that failed to cope with the quicker movement and passing of the home team.

In blustery conditions, the first 20 minutes saw the Guyson-sponsored Ilkley Juniors Youth gain a lot of possession without creating many goalmouth incidents.

The Ilkley defenders, Dixon, Beaumont, Houlston and Hammond stiffled Cononley's attacking ideas, and goalkeeper Taylor was untroubled for long periods in the first-half.

As Paul Rishworth and Joe McTigue gained firmer control of the midfield and began to feed the ball more frequently to wide players Allen Hey and Paul McTigue, Ilkley Youth began to pose more problems for a stretched Cononley defence.

It was Hey who cut into the penalty area and squared the ball for Richard Martin to crash home the first goal after 25 minutes, and shortly afterwards Martin broke clear of the defence to race into the penalty area and slide his second past stranded goalkeeper Wade.

Minutes later, Wade could only parry an attempted chip from 25 yards by Paul McTigue and predator Martin rammed home the loose ball to complete a well earned hat-trick.

A clearly disgruntled Cononley team was soon a further goal behind as Hey tucked home a penalty, after Mark Houlston was sent tumbling following a mazy 40-yard run through the defence. With wind advantage in the second-half, Ilkley Youth produced a customary lazy start when Cononley were allowed to fashion two half-chances, one of which brought a good reaction save from the underemployed Taylor.

This was to be his last piece of serious action as substitutes Paget, Crowther and Dadd injected new life into Ilkley Youth.

Strong determined play by Horne provided Martin with the chance to slot home his fourth and Ilkley's fifth goal on the hour. Soon after, a succession of inswinging corners by McTigue culminated in Carl Dadd bulleting home a header from 12 yards out and then Martin set up Rishworth to fire home from the edge of the penalty area to make it 7-0.

As Cononley flagged, the Youth players poured forward and Crowther saw the goalkeeper fingertip his cross-cum-shot onto the post.

The scoring was completed when the Cononley goalkeeper and a defender managed to collide and leave Joe Horne to slam the ball into an empty goal.

This was just deserves for a strong performance in which he showed many good touches and a sharp turn of pace.

Man- of-the-Match was awarded to David Dixon for another cultured display at right-back and the back four once again looked composed and solid.

Taylor maintained his second clean sheet in three games and the Juniors Youth team has now only conceded 12 goals in 13 league games.

It was difficult to ask for a better display from Richard Martin who scored four goals and was a constant threat to the Cononley defence, and he combined well with fellow forward Joe Horne.

It was reassuring to see captain Paul Rishworth and Joe McTigue compete strongly to win the midfield, and Allen Hey

and Paul McTigue were constant threats in their wide positions.

Nevertheless, against better opposition the Ilkley Youth players will need to move the ball and support each other more quickly if they are to make best advantage of their speed of movement and team shape.

l This Saturday, Ilkley Junior Youth are at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Waddington FC.

This should be a more exacting test for the youth players and will kick-off at 2.00pm at either the Grammar School or East Holmes Fields depending on playing conditions..

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