Ilkley AFC 1

Dewsbury Moor Ath 0

Ilkley came through another tough encounter, without playing to their full potential, to continue a run of good results. It was a far closer game than the previous meeting between these two teams earlier in the season when Ilkley won 4-0.

Neither team managed to control the game in the early stages as the game was being played at a frantic pace, with time on the ball in midfield at a premium.

Being the home team, Ilkley tried to impose themselves and sought to keep possession as much as possible. Dewsbury were taking a more direct approach and caused a few moments of uncertainty in the Ilkley defence.

It was Ilkley who had by far the best chance of the first-half though. A good move down the left resulted in full back Richardson over-lapping and putting in a low cross. The defenders all missed the ball and Stockdale found himself unmarked at the back post.

He seemed a little surprised that the ball managed to find its way through and snatched at the chance as he blazed the ball over from eight yards.

Were it not for an excellent performance by Adam Davey at centre-half, Ilkley may have found themselves behind at the interval, but as it was the match was goalless at half -time.

The Ilkley players were given a wake-up call by the manager and seemed to respond as they fully controlled the opening 20 minutes of the second-half, without managing to make the decisive breakthrough.

Mid-way through the first-half, Ilkley made their authority count. A cross in from the left was only half cleared to the edge of the box and Stockdale atoned for his earlier miss by beating the defender to the ball before firing in a shot across the goal inside the Dewsbury 'keeper's right hand post.

The game was physical throughout but was never malicious. It was then a surprise as a scuffle broke out off the ball but the referee showed a lot of leniency as he merely booked the two players involved, despite the obvious raised arms.

Neither team would have had cause to complain if their players had been red carded but the visitors' right back will count himself extremely unlucky to have also got a caution for breaking up the altercation.

The game re-started and the incident was quickly forgotten as both teams quite rightly concentrated wholly on the football. Ilkley were made to hang on to their lead as Dewsbury pressed forward for an equaliser.

Fresh legs were introduced and Smith and Taylor did extremely well in keeping possession and providing a new momentum going forward.

Despite their best efforts, Dewsbury could not find a way through the stubborn defence of Richardson, Bloom, Davey and Braithwaite and it gave Jones in the Ilkley goal his first clean sheet of 2005.

Ilkley will look to maintain their steady run as they travel to Stanley this weekend. Players meet at noon at the Swimming Pool.