Street Work Soccer 2

Ilkley AFC 3

A top-of-the-table clash, with too much at stake for both teams to generate a footballing spectacle, saw Ilkley battle to victory and secure a promotion place from Division Two of the West Yorkshire League at the first attempt.

Street Work had to win to stay in contention for promotion having gained a creditable draw with fellow contenders Sherburn last week, and the home team competed with high energy and commitment throughout the game.

Thankfully, Ilkley's team organisation, two predatory goals by Mark Houlston, and a magnificent performance by the back four sealed the win in increasingly difficult playing conditions.

Street Work were first out of the blocks and pressed forward chiefly through tricky wingers Parker and Zunais. Two corners were cleared by Ilkley and 'keeper Peter Taylor gathered the ball on the edge of his penalty area as long passes were drilled forward by Street Work.

Ilkley gradually gained a foothold in midfield, where David Knox and Nick Quaife were involved in a ding-dong battle with the combative Crombie and Minott.

As the home side's energy began to sap, Ilkley pushed them back. Ilkley took the lead after 20 minutes when Quaife's pressure allowed Damian Smith to wriggle beyond his marker and from his low cross Houlston got in front of Foster to divert the ball past Altaf.

The 13th goal of the season for the Ilkley midfielder-cum-striker deflated the Street Work players and Ilkley found more space in wide positions, and added a second goal on the half hour.

Once again pressure on the player with the ball led to the goal, as Richardson won his challenge on half-way and played the ball into space behind the opposing full-back for Horne to run onto. Sensing the danger 'keeper Altaf raced to deal with the ball but was closed down by Horne and his attempted pass to Foster was anticipated by Houlston who placed a first-time volley into the unguarded goal from outside the penalty area.

Stung by the two goals, Street Work's endeavour began to break down as Ilkley looked to consolidate the lead. Disappointingly, some casual defending in the penalty area allowed Zunais to nick the ball past Martin Taylor and the Ilkley player's lunge tripped his opponent.

The penalty was awarded and duly dispatched by Parker to rejuvenate the home team and peg Ilkley back to a 2-1 interval lead.

With the wind becoming stronger and Street Work players refuelled with energy after the late goal, Ilkley were pressed back in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half. Yet never once did the home side breach the defensive barrier in which Adam Davey showed maturity beyond his years as he helped Bloom deal with a succession of long-balls forward. Time and again, Ilkley defenders won important challenges, covered each other denied opponents space to turn, so it was deflating when Street Work equalised after 60 minutes when a speculative long range shot was deflected in by Braithwaite.

Street Work applied pressure but the introduction of Jim Hannaford had an immediate impact. Knox and Quaife began to gain more possession, and it was from Knox's pas that Hannaford twisted past Foster only to be brought down. Snatching the ball Hannaford side-footed the penalty home to restore Ilkley's lead with ten minutes remaining.

Ilkley are the first team in the history of the West Yorkshire League to gain promotion at the first attempt. The challenge now is to press Sherburn to the final game of the season to decide the championship. On Saturday Ilkley entertain Kirk Deighton (2.30pm).