Ilkley AFC.........3

Spa Athletic.....3

Seven games undefeated for Ilkley and a performance that prompted the Spa manager Alan Bradley to complement the home team's quality of play but it was another draw snatched from the jaws of victory.

Having almost battered Spa into submission and taken the lead on three occasions, casual defending allowed the plucky visitors to score three times from four chances.

Meanwhile, Ilkley players spurned seven one-on-one situations with the Spa goalkeeper and hit the woodwork three times.

With West Holmes field fortunately avoiding foot-and-mouth restrictions in the area, Ilkley started brightly after a reminder from manager Dave

Houlston that the team must play at a high tempo to take advantage of superior passing and movement.

With Cummings and Bellwood unavailable, Hughes returned to play alongside Bloom at centre-back and Horne had recovered from illness. The Ilkley players dominated the opening 15 minutes and might have taken the lead when Wilson stole in front of the Spa 'keeper to head Horne's cross just over and Hannaford drove wide after latching onto Bloom's through ball.

Spa's only forays into Ilkley's territory were long wind-assisted clearances and Lake was not forced to make a significant save throughout the first-half. The young 'keeper handled well from a couple of crosses and was well placed to stop a speculative free-kick at the near-post.

Full-backs Braithwaite and Houlston became the channels for Ilkley attacks as Hall and Giles sought to spread the play wide at every opportunity. This encouraged Mynett to run at defenders and it was from one

of these runs that Ilkley took a deserved lead after 25 minutes.

A Hughes interception sprung Mynett clear and after a twisting run into the penalty-area the low cross was whacked into the net at the near post by Wilson.

Surely, the springboard for more goals as Ilkley surged forwards. The lively Hannaford hit the bar and saw two other shots well-saved by the Spa

goalkeeper, and crosses by Horner eluded attackers. Giles and Mynett had shots blocked before Hall's surging run caused panic the visitors' defence.

Then out-of-the-blue, an equaliser for Spa when three underemployed Ilkley defenders dithered in covering a long clearance and flimsy challenges saw the loose ball squirt to an unmarked forward who side-footed it past the stranded Lake.

A minute later, the half-time whistle sounded and a bemused crowd ruminated about how the score could possibly be 1-1 after so much Ilkley pressure. The important thing was for players not to be disheartened as the overall team commitment and performance was very encouraging.

An early goal was needed to dispel any lingering doubts and Wilson duly obliged seven minutes after the re-start. Houlston broke forward and his diagonal pass released Hannaford whose initial shot was blocked by the Spa 'keeper only for Wilson to slam in the rebound.

Another goal would have clinched the game for Ilkley and probably led to further scores but it failed to materialise and there was a sense of inevitability when Spa scored from their first attack in the 20th minute of the second-half.

Dukes ran onto a long ball in a wide right position and as defenders moved into position to stifle any progress, the youngster hit a crisp 25-yard shot towards the near-post.

Inexplicably, Lake flapped at the ball when it seemed a routine save and the score was level. Always a strange game, and the better for it, the score-line galvanised Spa players' belief that another goal was likely whenever they could mount an attack, meanwhile Ilkley continued to play well and squander chances.

A sweeping move down the right ended with Ilkley forwards unable to get a touch to Horne's low cross and the influential Giles had a shot blocked at the near-post.

With Braithwaite and Horne tearing holes in the Spa left side, it was no surprise when Hannaford skipped clear only to be scythed to the ground in the penalty-area by two defenders.

The same player despatched the penalty to make it 3-2 to Ilkley with fifteen minutes remaining.

Within minutes, Horne raced clear and pulled his shot inches wide of the far-post and Mynett was again thwarted by the goalkeeper's legs. And then it happened again, a last minute break down the left, a deep cross to the far post and three unmarked attackers, one of whom planted a header past Lake to even the score.

Poor defending thought he game should have been well beyond the reach of the visitors, who deserved credit for battling but where always kept in the game by Ilkley's inability to press home the footballing advantage.

Nevertheless, a good performance by Ilkley players who remain in contention for a top-three league place and involved in two cup competitions.

l On Saturday, Ilkley entertain Beckwithshaw at West Holmes (Kick-off 2.30pm). Players meet at 1.30pm at the cricket ground.