Ilkley Juniors Youth 2 Grindleton 2 (aet)

Grindleton won 7 - 5 ) on penalties.

DELIGHT and despair for the Ilkley Juniors Youth players after a magnificent battle against Division One leaders Grindleton. With the scores tied 2 -2 after extra time, the juniors fell at the final challenge - the lottery of a penalty shoot-out - when Grindleton scored all five penalties to take the tie.

In a thrilling and progressively more physical encounter Ilkley took a surprise lead when a corner by Hey caused trouble at the far post and McTigue was amongst a clutch of players when the ball was scrambled into the net. Quicker to the ball and using the wide players Jordan and Crowther well, Ilkley continued to cause Grindleton problems.

Campbell proved a handful in the air and it was no surprise when Ilkley scored a superb second goal.

Allen Hey won the ball on the half-way line and dribbled through the static Grindleton defence before sliding the ball past the keeper for an excellent individual goal of great skill and composure. Minutes later Rishworth saw a 25 yard shot graze the bar while at the other end Taylor tipped a Grindleton shot on to the bar as they exerted more pressure in search of a goal.

It took a determined Grindleton thirty minutes of the second half to break down the Ilkley defence and score their first goal from a a harshly awarded penalty. When an oddside decision was ignored by the referee the Grindleton centre forward poked home the equaliser and it was further rough justic for a battling Ilkley team. But the response of the young players was magnificent as they refused to buckle.

As the game entered extra time Mark Houlston and Peter Tod were outstanding as they repeatedly won challenges against physically stronger players. McTigue and Rishworth worked tirelessly in midfield and Dadd nearly won the game when he hit the bar with a 30 yard cross-shot.

Though Grindleton's superior strength gained them more possession, it was testimony to the resolve of the Ilkley defenders that Taylor did not have a direct shot to save throughout the extra time period.

Alas the lottery of penalties took the edge off a magnificent team performance, and delight turned to despair. It was a magnificent performance not for the quality of football played but for the qualities of commitment, determination and concentration shown by the young players.

Against an experienced and increasingly robust team the Ilkley players didn't shirk a challenge and should gain confidence from their response to this element of the game of football. The response of the crowd at the end of the game and the relief of the Grindleton players was sufficient to demonstrate how well the Ilkley players performed.Man-of-the-match was awarded to Peter Tod who had an excellent game at right back. However Houlston, McTigue and Hey also had particularly outstanding games.

Next match: Saturday October 3, Carleton (h), kick-off 2.30pm at East Holmes Field.

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