Rawdon OB scupper Ilkley in penalty shoot out marathon

(Rawdon won 10-9 on pens)

Ilkley AFC were knocked out of the Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup in a marathon penalty shoot out with new Saturday club Rawdon Old Boys.

The quarter-final tie ended in dramatic fashion with Rawdon going through to the semi-final draw along with Baildon Trinity Athletic, Horsforth St Margaret's and Guiseley Reserves.

In the other Resourceprint Solutions sponsored cup tie on Saturday Guiseley Reserves' mostly teenage side overcame a bruising battle with Otley Town to come back from 1-0 down and win 2-1.

Ilkley started in a lacklustre fashion and allowed their visitors to control the tempo. Rawdon were stronger in the challenge and more determined to win the ball, occasionally being a little over-zealous which earned them a couple of yellow cards. Ilkley struggled to match the enthusiasm of their opponents and Rawdon deservedly took the lead after 25 minutes but in contentious circumstances.

A long throw was arrowed into Ilkley's penalty area, and James Wilson was adjudged to have pushed the Rawdon centre-half as he challenged for the header.

The decision looked quite generous but Rawdon took full advantage from the penalty spot. The visitors then increased their lead after 35 minutes as they stopped an Ilkley break and worked a good opportunity which their winger converted comfortably.

Ilkley had shown little going forward in the first half, but Hannaford remained their main threat. His trickery won countless free kicks, which were easily repelled by Rawdon's combative defence.

Stockdale was introduced in place of Liam Blenkhorn, and the effect was immediate. Within minutes he latched onto a long throw by Wilson and headed home. Ilkley were given renewed confidence and levell ed when Wilson latched onto a half clearance and crossed for Houlston to smash home.

With just over five minutes to go, Rawdon regained the lead but Ilkley refused to let their second-half efforts go to waste. Houlston panicked a Rawdon defender into putting the ball into his own net. Rawdon's goals came from Lewis Sowden (2) and Matt Fahy.

The topsy-turvy cup tie came back to reality in a scoreless extra-time which led to a penalty shoot out. The first nine players on each team all converted despite increasing pressure. It was a little ironic that Matt Trimnell, who was outstanding all afternoon, missed the 20th penalty of the day to decide the tie in the visitors favour.

Ilkley will need to pick themselves up for Saturday's game at Baildon Trinity Athletic, kick-off 2.15pm.

Otley Town 1 Guiseley Res 2

GUISELEY AFC's young Reserve team, ravaged by first team calls and unjuries, put out a team which included eight teenagers. Their inexperience was tested by Town in a bruising game in which Town had four players booked and one sent off.

Guiseley deservedly emerged winners of this twice postponed Wharfedale and District Cup quarter-final tie but they went behind to a first minute goal which rocked them back on their heels.

Otley got off to the best possible start when Charles McGrath fired them ahead in the first minute but so poorly did they play thereafter, this was to be their only shot on target throughout the entire game.

Guiseley overcame the disappointment of losing the early goal and re-grouped with their older heads Lee Poole, Asa Hatfield and 'keeper Stuart Jeffrey giving an excellent lead to a young side prepared to work themselves into the ground.

This was typified by the efforts of Liam Robinson, just 16, who had made a scoring debut in midweek for the Reserves. He took an early clattering but it did not put him off his stride and in the second-half he put his side level with an excellent goal.

Guiseley then had the edge for much of the game and they increased the temp. They sealed victory with an excellently worked goal which left Lee Poole with the opening to net from 20 yards out.