Ilkley AFC 3

CHRIST CHURCH OB 4

A WEAKENED Ilkley side was unlucky not to have a lion's share of the points after pushing the visitors to the wire. A goalline clearance in the dying moments separated the sides.

Ilkley were without strikers Steve Hall and Alan Stockdale amd they lacked punch up front but then so did the visitors. Both sides had enough opportunities to have doubled their scores.

The hosts had the ball in the net only to have the goal ruled out for a push on the 'keeper and at the other end Stuart Middleton turned a rasping shot round the post to deny Christ Church.

In the 15th minute Chris Mynett on his debut scored a belter picking the ball up 25 yards out before cutting inside to crack the ball high over Jackson into the roof of the net.

The game then became a more open affair and when Christ Church again breeched Ilkley's dangerous off-side tactics they failed to heed the warning.

On their next attack the same ball over the top left Brian Walker bearing down on goal. Only left-back Max Bellwood made the chase but he was unable to prevent Walker from slotting the ball into the far corner.

For the remainder of the first-half Ilkley were pushed back. Paul Ellerton gave the visitors the lead before Walker grabbed his second.

The absence of centre-back Marsh and the hard working John Sayer affected Ilkley's performance and it was not until the second-half that they started to rise to the challenge.

Energetic battling midfielder Ashley Roberts got his side back into the game following a period of sustained pressure and when Sergio Galasso drew his man into making a rash challenge just inside the penalty area the equaliser looked on the cards.

Matt Long stepped up but his shot was too near the 'keeper and Jackson made the save. Bloom followed up only to sky the ball over the bar.

Things did not get any kinder for Ilkley who were to rue many missed chances. Then a comedy goal extended Church's lead. The ball crashed off the post to centre-back Joe McTigue who then tried to clear but the ball struck 'keeper Middleton who was retreating and it rolled over the line.

Ilkley to their credit never gave in and ten minutes from time they forced a couple of corners. Following a scramble Bloom forced the ball home to make it 4-3.

Middleton made a terrific save tipping the ball over the bar before Ilkley went down to the other end and forced a corner. Richard Giles floated the cross in and Galasso lashed his shot goalwards only to see the ball cleared off the line.

It was an entertaining game and both sides worked hard. For Ilkley Chris Mynett looks a good signing and Paul Bates on his debut up front showed glimpses of being a good player. Match points went to Mynett and Middleton.

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