Burley U-15s 4

Idle U-15s 0

A match that started scrappily eventually was to prove Burley's most dominant game of the season so far. It was 20 minutes into the game before the first meaningful pass of the match.

A through ball from Lee Jackson, put the speedy Adam Rhodes clear. He coolly and clinically lobbed the advancing 'keeper for the opening goal. Phil Buckley almost made it two within a minute but was on hand a few moments later to get on the end of David Healey's pull-back cross to score in true centre-forward fashion.

Jackson seemed miffed when he forced the ball across the line only for the goal to be disallowed for pushing. The impressive Will Falkingham danced his way down the left and set up Rhodes for his second with a precision cross that was neatly despatched into the net.

A Buckley lob that cleared the bar and a fiercely driven shot from Rhodes that catapulted off the upright completed the first-half goalmouth action. Idle had been well contained by the rock solid Burley defence marshalled by Laurie Swan and George Wright, with Ben Louden in his debut season beginning to figure more prominently and Graham Parker as dependable as ever.

The second-half opened with continuing pressure on Idle, especially when the 'keeper spilled a shot and the ball was scrambled clear. Healey wrapped the game up early with a solo weaving run, finishing off with a precision left-foot shot into the top corner of the net. To Idle's credit, they would not lie down and (with Rhodes and Healey now off the field) began to create several chances of their own. Jonathan Woolley again performed with growing confidence and was forced into a finger-tip diving save to push the ball round his post for a corner.

A break-out from defence saw Buckley rampage clear, firing a rasping shot from long range that hit the underside of the bar and seemingly cross the line before bouncing out. There was no Russian linesman to hand and the referee was unable to make a decision other than to allow play to go on.

A couple of near misses from Buckley completed his useful morning's work, though Idle still had ammunition in their arsenal. From a free-kick some 25 yards out, the Idle number ten fired in a viciously swerving drive that deceived the entire defence, sailing straight into the net.

However, the free-kick had been awarded for obstruction and was indirect, resulting in a goal-kick rather than a re-start from the centre.

Improved results in the past month have seen Burley climb to fourth in the table. Out of several impressive contenders both in attack and at the back, George Wright got the nod as Man-of-the-Match

Ilkley Juniors U-12s 3

Collingham U-12s 3

Ilkley's unbeaten run remained intact after they battled to rescue a point against a classy Collingham outfit.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with Joe Thompson shining in his unfamiliar role in midfield with some accurate passing. It was Thompson who almost opened the scoring as his fine effort went narrowly wide.

But it was the visitors' who took the early lead. Ilkley fought back well, and, after some good work in the box from Finlay Kroon, Will Knox was on hand to bring the scores level.

With Joe Beesley, on his debut, and Tom Clark starting to control things at the back, Ilkley were looking more secure. When Ilkley were awarded a free-kick midway in the visitors' half there seemed little danger, but Jack Williams crashed in a superb shot to give Ilkley the lead. With the game approaching half- time, a momentary lapse in the Ilkley defence brought the scores level.

Ilkley fought well in the second half, with Jack Marchant and Anthony Mitchell combining well down the right on a number of occasions, but the visitors regained the lead mid-way through the half.

Ilkley are a team of greater character than last year and their spirits never dropped. As Ilkley pressed for the equaliser, Stephen Loy played Stephen Bunn through only for the 'keeper to deny him with a brilliant save. With the game moving into injury-time, Man-of-the-Match Joe Thompson was brought down as he moved in on goal, and Will Knox despatched the spot kick to give Ilkley a hard-fought share of the spoils.

Ilkley U-8 Yellows 0

Collingham 4

After the heavy defeat away to Collingham, Ilkley restored some pride with a dogged performance which, particularly in the second-half, was closer than the scoreline suggests.

Ilkley, trailing 3-0 at the interval, contested a very even second-half in which only a penalty award to Collingham separated the teams. Indeed, Ilkley had their own appeal for a penalty turned down following an incursion into the area when Nicky Corless appeared to be chopped down before he could shoot.

Collingham began in typical stampeding fashion, threatening to overrun Ilkley. James Bullock was outstanding in central defence with a solid performance from Matthew Newsome. Together with Greg Knox, who adopted the sweeper role, all three ran tirelessly to stem the flow of attacks.

In midfield, Joe Padgett made a number of effective block tackles and William Coates, on as a second- half substitute, broke up the Collingham domination of the centre of the park. Nicky Corless played creatively behind the strike force and sparked a number of lively attacks with Joe Lawrence providing a willing target. Thanks to referee Jeremy Newsome.Man-of-the-match was James Bullock.

Ilkley need to consolidate the second-half revival for the third consecutive meeting with Collingham on Sunday.