Ilkley 4, Beckwithshaw 1

After the previous weeks game was postponed, the Booths sponsored Ilkley AFC got back to winning ways, overcoming a potential banana skin game at home to bottom of the table side Beckwithshaw.

Ilkley, having suffered a disappointing loss in their previous league game to Spa, needed a positive result to regain some confidence as the players look forward to a cup semi-final against Addingham on Saturday.

The match against Beckwithshaw was played in ideal conditions, yet despite this, Ilkley found themselves needlessly behind within the first 20 minutes.

Having conceded a careless free-kick, some 25 yards from goal, Swales sensed an opportunity to take the kick quickly and curled his shot into the bottom right hand corner of Ilkley's goal, with goalkeeper Bainbridge still organising his defensive wall.

Having not heard a whistle to allow the kick to be taken, Ilkley's players were understandably questioning the referee, yet the decision stood.

An opportunist goal for a team that had struggled to get out of their own half and yet had defended stoutly as Ilkley pressed forwards. With Ilkley playing some neat football interspersed with spells of over-elaboration, the equaliser was inevitable and duly arrived ten minutes later.

Jamie Barrow collected a pass from Braithwaite, turned neatly and set off on a mazy dribble, which resulted in a low, hard shot from 20 yards.

Although McKenzie in the Beckwithshaw goal should have dealt with the shot fairly comfortably, the ball somehow managed to creep through him and over the line.

Maintaining the pressure, Ilkley had a penalty claim turned down when Hannaford was tripped, and seconds before half-time Quaife headed a corner past McKenzie only for referee Coles to wave play-on as the ball rebounded from the back of the net.

A 1-1 scoreline reflected the lethargy in some of Ilkley's play as the limited quality of opponents lead some Ilkley players to try the difficult rather than the simple.

The second-half saw Ilkley gain even more control over the game with Quaife and Knox in central midfield beginning to dominate their Beckwithshaw counterparts.

With Dixon, Bloom and Houlston stifling any Beckwithshaw attacks, the pressure on the visitors was constant and chances to score were inevitable.

A powerful shot by Stockdale was tipped over the bar, Quaife almost burst through only to blaze wide from a narrow angle, Barrow's low cross shot was well held by McKenzie and Hannaford's corner evaded three onrushing Ilkley players.

With each missed opportunity, the Ilkley players began to show frustration when the situation needed authority and composure. Thankfully, the second goal arrived after a tactical switch saw Horne introduced and Stockdale moved into a wide position.

Almost immediately, Stockdale played a one-two with Hannaford on the edge of the penalty area, skipped past full back Kilvington and pushed the ball past McKenzie at the near post.

An audible sigh of relief was heard and Beckwithsaw's stubborn resistance was broken. Stockdale added his second after 70 minutes when he raced onto a through ball from Knox to drill the ball past McKenzie.

The overworked goalkeeper saved shots from Horne and Knox, before McTigue had two near post chances after coming on as a substitute for Stockdale.

As Ilkley continued to press home their advantage a jinking run by Hannaford was ended in the area by a scything challenge from Ramshaw.

The Beckwithshaw player gained the mercy of the referee who only showed him a yellow card, and Hannaford scored from the resulting penalty.

In a final act of defiance Beckwithshaw forced a corner and Swales saw a goal bound header excellently saved by Bainbridge in the Ilkley goal.

After the lethargic start, Ilkley players gradually increased the tempo of the game and overwhelmed their opponents, and this is a lesson to be learned quickly if Ilkley are to gain some reward for another exceptional season.

Having already amassed as many points as they did in winning the championship last season, Ilkley are still chasing Spa for this season's title and have difficult games ahead if the challenge is to be sustained.

Ilkley will play at Addingham in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday (kick-off 2.30 pm, meet at the swimming pool at 1.15pm).