lkley junior soccer

Wetherby U-11s B 1

Feeling a little more comfortable now that they were covered in mud the Ilkley boys were keen to show Wetherby that they were no pussy cats. From the first whistle Roebuck and Thompson in midfield supplied Mitchell and Kroon with some fabulous passes allowing the team to make use of the whole width of the pitch.

As they oozed confidence Mitchell picked up a cross from the midfield, took it neatly past the imposing defence and passed it to Kroon. With the goal in sight Kroon was invincible and scored with style to make it 1-0. Wetherby soon realised that they had to lift their game which gave Eastwood and Flynn much work to do.

Supported by Thompson and Roebuck Ilkley were able to withstand many attempts at goal before Wetherby slipped the ball neatly into goal to equalise. As in many games before Ilkley displayed great character and teamwork as they re-grouped and sent the Wetherby players into dissarray.

The defence were confused as Mitchell gave a short corner to an unmarked Thompson who used his powerful shot to hit the back of the net with great force.

There was still plenty of running in these hungry legs. Bettison saved the day many times as he displayed great courage and intelligence in goal. He used his defenders, Eastwood and Flynn, extremely well as they moved up the pitch passing with confidence to Roebuck.

A gap was cleverly used as the ball moved onto Kroon who ran smoothly down the right wing with Thompson alongside him. As Mitchell kept the defence busy Thompson made a crafty move inside, Kroon tapped the ball towards him and there was no stopping the emphatic first touch by Thompson which left the Wetherby 'keeper with no chance.

It was a magnificent team effort that the boys should be very proud of. Man-of-the-Match was Joe Thompson.

Ilkley U-11s A 1

Wetherby U-11s A 2

This first match back after the Christmas break was always going to be a difficult one as all the players and managers concerned blew away a few cobwebs.

As a result the match took a little while to warm up, however Flynn and Eastwood in defence supported by Bettison in goal provided the usual reliable deterent to the opposing side.

Despite constant passing in midfield between Roebuck and Kroon, who proved themselves to be a great partnership, Wetherby soon scored their first goal. The team were not disheartened though and came out in the second-half determined to put on the pressure.

Thompson was relishing the chance to play in attack and with Mitchell beside him they were able to maintain the momentum. This was rewarded by a goal soon after. As the ball struggled to find the back of the net Mitchell stepped in and gave the final killer shot.

With the scores equal this was now a very exciting game and it was difficult to split the teams with great performances by all the players on the pitch. In the dying minutes of the game, however, Wetherby were extremely lucky to slip a goal past the magnificent defence to win the game. A very promising start to the New Year. Man-of-the-Match was Dominic Roebuck.

Burley U-9s 1

Silsden U-9s 0

BURLEY Juniors Under-9s had to settle for a single goal victory at Silsden on Sunday.

They struggled to play with their normal fluency in the first match after Christmas although they had the better of the play for most of the match.

Strikers George Ross and Caitlin Williams made many opportunities but the ball would not go in the net for Burley until Ben Chew coolly side-footed home from five yards to give them a vital lead.

Although solid in defence Silsden were not packing their own area and in midfield Thomas Scott, Aaron Kelly, Ben Cunnington and Sam Robinson were having to compete for the ball and at times were finding it hard to get through to the Silsden half of the field.

The Silsden 'keeper's kicking from hand was very powerful, bypassing midfield straight to his strikers and giving Silsden a solid platform for attack.

Sam Westerman, Simon Renwick and Pauli Thorsteinsson played well in defence but the bouncing ball created some real opportunities for Silsden.

Burley 'keeper Oliver Gillatt Jones was in fine form, however, and a series of fine saves and blocks at the feet of the Silsden forwards ensured a clean sheet and made him Man-of- the-Match.

Burley U-8s 1

Long Lee U-8s 10

After the mid-winter break, Burley Juniors Under-8s resumed action on Sunday against the Keybury League leaders Long Lee, and were beaten convincingly.

Burley found themselves 2-0 behind after just two minutes and from then on it was always going to be a difficult game against a team who have won all of their League game so far this season and had yet to concede a goal.

Thomas Wardman and Ben Curran between them won the ball in midfield and worked it to Dominic Grimes. Using his skill Dominic took the ball forward and holding off the attentions of the defence managed to smash the ball home. A minor victory for Burley in a one-sided match.

From the kick-off Burley could have made it 2-2, in a similar move, this time involving Ben Brear. Dominic Grimes once again found himself bearing down on the Long Lee goal, only for the 'keeper to make an excellent save at his feet.

Despite the mounting scoreline Burley never lost heart. Matthew Naybour and Joseph Dowley worked tirelessly in defence, and 'keeper Jeremy Whitehead did everything he could to prevent the goals going in. At half-time with the score at 7-1 both teams made changes. The introduction of Sam Pollock and Bradley Cox created some fresh impetus for Burley.

Harrogate Hornets 0

Ilkley U-12s 7

THIS was a resounding victory for Ilkley Under-12s against a team who managed to draw with Ilkley only a few weeks before this game.

Ilkley were soon on top and they opened the scoring after five minutes. A well-struck shot by Chris Atkins appeared goalbound but the 'keeper pulled off a brilliant save.

However, he could only parry the ball into the path of James Heaton who was left with a simple task to put the ball into the net.

A few minutes later David Page made it 2-0 to Ilkley following good work by Danny Gadaby.

Just before half-time Danny Skelton picked up a loose ball at the edge of the penalty area and drove the ball into the top corner to complete the first-half scoring.

Ilkley started the second-half as they had finished the first. Danny Gadsby, who was involved in most of Ilkley's attacks, made it 4-0. Both David Page and James Heaton added goals.

Substitute Joe Procter, playing his first game for the club, nipped in at the far post, following a cross from the left, to complete Ilkley's scoring.

Ilkley Juniors U-11s B 0

Wetherby Juniors 1

This game seemed destined for a 0-0 draw until Ilkley conceded a late goal. Ilkley's defence of Michael Lader and Man-of-the-Match William Normington were seldom in trouble in the first-half and 'keeper Nino Ruggiero was almost a spectator as the visitors failed to find a way through the home defence.

Despite one or two flashes of skill, Ilkley's forward line of Chris O'Connor and Stephen Loy equally found it difficult to penetrate the visitors' defence.

Paul Kehoe and Matthew Hawkes fought hard in midfield. Ilkley did manage to find a way through but Stephen Loy's shot was well saved.

With the game heading for a draw a late goal for the visitors meant that Ilkley finished the match empty handed.

Ilkley Juniors U-11s B 5

Wetherby Juniors A 5

In a pulsating contest Ilkley produced a remarkable comeback to gain a point they so richly deserved.

The game started well for Ilkley, with Chris O'Connor scoring in the first minute with a delightful chip from a narrow angle.

Following a fine save by Nino Ruggiero, Ilkley broke again for Paul Kehoe to finish a flowing move by netting Ilkley's second. A lapse in the Ilkley defence allowed the visitors to steal a goal before half-time.

However, Wetherby soon equalised in the second-half. As the game switched from end-to-end, Nino Ruggiero produced an outstanding save to keep Ilkley in the game but Wetherby turned the game around with three goals in a two minute spell.

With time running out for Ilkley the game took another turn, with the Ilkley defensive pairing of William Normington and Michael Lader now looking impregnable, and the precision passing of Stephen Loy startingto open up the visitors' defence.

Chris O'Connor pulled a goal back after some good work by Paul Kehoe, and then Man-of-the-Match Matthew Hawkes scrambled a loose ball home to reduce the deficit further. O'Connor powered in the equaliser for his hat-trick.