Ilkley AFC 0, Burley Trojans 0: THIS keenly fought encounter between the local rivals was shaded on scoring chances and possession by Ilkley, though neither side found the breezy weather, hard playing surface and over-fussy refereeing easy to manage.

This draw diminishes Burley's chance to win the league title, the team having stumbled over the past few weeks, and revealed how the season might have shaped differently for the enterprising Booth's sponsored Ilkley team if form since December had been matched throughout the season.

Watched by a decent size crowd, it was the visitors who posed the early threats, forcing successive corners despite playing against a stiff breeze. Burley players appealed in vain for a penalty when Lofthouse volleyed against Williams from point blank range, and thereafter found it difficult to mount consistent attacks. With wind advantage, it was Ilkley who pressed forward and had the first clear goalscoring opportunity after 15 minutes.

A Stockdale shot was parried to safety by Hargreaves, who then watched Hoyle head wide from Richardson's in-swinging corner when only yards from goal.

Crosses by Stockdale and Braithwaite drifted beyond the far post, and Hargreaves made a comfortable catch from Wilson's angled shot, as Ilkley maintained territorial advantage.

Long balls from defence seemed the order of the day from the visitors and Connolly and Constantine worked hard to gain possession. Too often forward passes were overlong, allowing Muttick to field or kick clear. In the difficult playing conditions, the midfield area was a major combat zone as the two teams battled to regain possession from knock-downs. Throughout the game, Ilkley's Hoyle and Burley's Quaife showed their superior quality in midfield and enjoyed a competitive personal duel.

As the half drew to a close, Burley failed to make good use of a couple of free-kicks and Muttick punched clear from a corner, but neither side had managed a consistent and controlled spell of attacking pressure.

With wind advantage in the second-half, Burley perhaps fancied breaking the deadlock though it was the Ilkley players who settled first and began to construct more passing movements, particularly from full-backs Beaumont and Richardson.

Burley's tendency to hit long through passes enabled Muttick to feed the young Ilkley full-backs at every opportunity, and with Wilson and Stockdale finding it easier to keep possession of the ball, Hoyle and Trimnell were able to spread the ball wide more frequently. From one of these raids down the left flank, Ratcliffe's cross somehow evaded Braithwaite at the far post.

With Bloom and Williams shackling Connolly, Burley's creativity came from bursts forward by Quaife or through the close control of Lofthouse. A miscalculation by Bloom allowed Quaife to run onto a bouncing ball and though he blasted the ball well wide it highlighted Ilkley's need to be wary of the league's highest scoring team.

Poor concentration at two corners allowed Burley to apply pressure and Constantine volleyed wide after Beaumont slipped. This was to be Burley's best chance, though Muttick punched clear from an inswinging corner that was carried goalwards by the wind. Replacing the tiring Braithwaite and Ratcliffe with Horne and Bellwood, gave new impetus to the home side.

A flowing move down the right saw Beaumont deliver an excellent cross to the far post only for Wilson and Bellwood to collide with each other as a headed goal seemed a certainty. Another let off for Burley who were beginning to find keeping possession difficult.

However, the visitor's showed their determination when Muttick scrambled a shot clear and Hughes headed over from a deep corner kick. With Hoyle and Quaife still engrossed in an epic duel, the dogged Trimnell succumbed to cramp and was replaced by Marsh. Richardson crossed and Hargreaves saved the game for Burley. He flung himself low to his left to palm away Stockdale's low shot that seemed destined to break the deadlock.

Hoyle almost forced his way through a crowded penalty area after a spell of ball juggling, and Burley defenders Dibb and Hanogue were increasingly thankful to clear the ball to safety.

l On Saturday, Ilkley conclude their home league fixtures with a game against Northallerton at the Grammar School field (3pm). Players meet at 2pm.