Ilkley 1, Bramhope 0

This was an end-of-season affair as Ilkley FC concluded a successful league season with another home win and clean sheet.

Although the team gained more points than ever before in a Harrogate League season the attempt to retain the championship was thwarted by Spa Athletic who secured the league title by two points with a win at Addingham.

With next week's Challenge Cup Final in the forefront of their minds, the Ilkley players treated the game against Bramhope as a potential injury waiting to happen.

There were few memorable moments to report, though Bramhope players will feel aggrieved at not gaining a point as they worked hard to maintain possession in the first-half and then ran out of stamina in the second-half as Ilkley pressed for an opening goal.

The early exchanges showed that Bramhope players had more of an appetite for combat than Ilkley players, as the home side were second to the ball and slow in moving the ball around when in possession.

Nevertheless, when Ilkley attacked the threat to goal looked greater than when Bramhope attacked, and Horne's far post cross after a strong run just eluded Barrow.

Minutes later Barrow forced his way into the penalty area and his low drive skimmed the far post.

Bramhope's best scoring attempts came from consecutive corners, when sloppy marking allowed firstly Broadhead and secondly Dutton to head goalwards, forcing Ilkley 'keeper Bainbridge to tip both headers over the bar.

The Ilkley back four of Houlston, Bloom, Dixon and Richardson were overworked, yet stood firm, as Quaife and Knox found if difficult to gain possession in midfield, and Bloom made several important interceptions.

As half-time approached, Barrow almost broke the deadlock when he clipped the ball wide after racing beyond Hall, and Gilmartin saved bravely at Horne's feet after a clever through pass by the otherwise quiet Hannaford.

The second-half, followed the pattern of the first with Bramhope busy and trying to pass the ball around yet and Ilkley always looking likely to score when pressing forward.

As the visiting side tired, Knox and Quaife began to find more space to release wide players, and the introduction of Stockdale and Wilson increased the attacking threat.

The deadlock was broken after 65 minutes when Barrow combined with Wilson on the left, and Ilkley's top scorer weaved inside Hall and surprisingly curled a right-footed shot past Gilmartin and into the far corner of the net. A high quality goal in a mediocre match and which might have been added to minutes later when Barrow set up Knox but the bobbly pitch allowed Campbell to block the shot.

The visitors should have equalised after 75 minutes when poor marking allowed Dutton an open shot at goal from 12 yards but he delayed long enough for Dixon to force his shot wide.

Broadhead almost equalised when he sneaked behind Houlston and his flick shot hit the near post and drifted to safety, and this was to be the last chance for Bramhope as Ilkley closed the game down in the final minutes.

A magnificent league season for Ilkley stuttered to an end with players wondering what else could have been done to retain the league championship.

Many had forgotten that seven players from last season's side had left the club or retired, and five members of the current squad were promoted from the Reserve team this season.

Testament to the depth of quality in the club and the progress made by many young players who graduated from Ilkley Juniors or Youth teams.

l On Saturday, Ilkley have the opportunity to retain the Harrogate Senior League Challenge Cup when the team faces Sherwood at Kirk Deighton FC (KO 6.15pm). Spectators wishing to support the team might wish to meet at the Ilkley swimming pool car park at 5pm and travel to the ground which is situated on the B6164 Deighton Road on the north west side of Wetherby.

Anyone requiring further details should contact Dave Houlston on 01535 636848.

The Ilkley players should meet at the swimming pool at 4.15pm and the squad for the cup final will comprise: David Bainbridge; Paul Braithwaite, David Dixon, Andy Bloom, Graham Richardson, Mark Houlston; James Hannaford, David Knox (capt), Nick Quaife, Alan Stockdale, Martin Taylor; Joe Horne, Jamie Barrow, Steve Hall, Chris Mynett.