Ilkley 0

Pool 2

A competitive and close-fought encounter between the Booth's sponsored Ilkley and title-chasers Pool, saw the visitors shade the game to claim three points. Whatever 'a bit of nouse' is, Pool showed more of it during the middle part of the game, where more experienced players eventually wrestled the impetus away from an Ilkley side that had chances to force a draw.

After a mediocre display last week against Tockwith, Ilkley players showed excellent commitment and effort as they harried Pool from the first whistle and gradually began to put pressure on the visitor's defence.

A couple of early corners for Pool showed their intent to force the pace after a recent run of poor results but Bloom, Hoyle and Williams matched the aerial challenge of Pool players.

Giles was tigerish in midfield and Morgan and Ratcliffe began to find more space in wide positions.

The first chance of the game fell to Ilkley after 20 minutes of stalemate when Richardson's free-kick reached Hoyle who couldn't direct his header back across goal. Thompson held an in-swinging Ratcliffe corner at full stretch before Pool had a big let off.

After a flowing move involving Wilson and Morgan, Giles's cross was cleared to the edge of the penalty-area from where Stockdale's pile-driver cannoned off the cross bar and out to safety. Enjoying a spell of pressure, Wilson also went close for Ilkley as he raced clear but found consecutive shots blocked by retreating defenders. The threat from Pool was always present as the veteran striker Joyce maintained possession well.

Cutting in from the left-side his square pass across the penalty-area was sliced wide to give Ilkley a reminder of the need to concentrate. As the first-half drew to a close it was Pool who began to press forwards and Taylor at full-stretch tipped a Pool corner away to safety.

The 0-0 half-time scoreline was fair reflection of the game, with both teams showing strong commitment without any malice and neither side dominating territory.

The midfield was the key battle area and Ilkley introduced Keith for the tiring Morgan at the beginning of the second-half.

Pool pushed an extra player forward to put more pressure on the Ilkley back four where full-backs Houlston and Richardson had begun to see a lot of possession. The visitors also pressed higher up the field and held the advantage for the first 15 minutes of the half without creating a chance as the young Ilkley defenders challenged and supported each other well.

The breakthrough for Pool came after 65 minutes when a cross from the right bounced out to the edge of the penalty-area and Taylor's miss-hit volley floated over Richardson and Taylor into the net.

Hardly the thunderous volley planned but a kind break for Pool, who pressed forward looking to add to the score in the next ten minutes.

Joyce broke clear only to see his low cross-shot brilliantly tipped away by Taylor and the Ilkley goalkeeper kicked clear from through passes by Pool midfielders who were beginning to dominate possession.

The introduction of Horne and a tactical shuffle gave Ilkley an impetus that should have been rewarded with a goal. Wilson blasted over from 15 yards, after being sent through by Richardson, and Houlston's long ball sent Horne racing clear only for his cross to be inches too high for Hoyle whose header glanced the ball wide of the far post.

Giles saw his low cross blocked by the last defender as three Ilkley players lined up to score in the penalty-area before the game was sealed by a second goal for Pool in the final five minutes.

After picking up a sliced clearance, Jamie Taylor turned inside Houlston and his head-high near-post shot was left to go wide by namesake Peter Taylor in the Ilkley goal.

Sadly, this was a misjudgement and the ball sneaked inside rather than outside the post. Game over. Pool players will probably feel they just deserved to nick a victory, whereas Ilkley players felt a draw was a fair result.

What was more important for Ilkley was the positive and committed attitude shown throughout the game, epitomised by Bloom and Giles who were outstanding.

Too often this season, less able teams have gained points from Ilkley because of this apparent lack of commitment from the first whistle despite the high quality of football capable by the young team.

l On Saturday the first team have no game scheduled but the successful reserve team continue their quest for the Third Division championship when they face Park Associates at the Grammar School (KO 2.30pm). Players meet at 1.30pm.