Hampsthwaite........2

Ilkley FC...................3

A welcome return to action for Ilkley after playing only one game over the past four weeks, and revenge for the defeat by Hampsthwaite earlier in the season.

On an increasingly boggy pitch, Ilkley allowed the home side to recover after conceding two first-half goals before forcing the winner mid-way into the second-half.

With the middle of the pitch being in poor condition before the start of the game, Ilkley players worked hard to move the ball into wide positions.

Several good passing moves involving Horne, Braithwaite and Hannaford created space for crosses from the right wing but these failed to find an Ilkley forward but produced a spate of corners.

From one of these corners, Rishworth stole in front of the 'keeper and headed narrowly wide and shots by Giles and Braithwaite were competently gathered by the goalkeeper.

On the left side, Houlston and Crowther were under more pressure defensively but a marauding run saw Houlston force another corner. With Bloom and Sayers giving the Hampsthwaite forwards little room to begin attacks, Ilkey dominated territorially and took the lead when Wilson received the ball with his back to goal, turned and fired a left foot shot beyond the 'keeper from 30 yards.

A stunning strike from a player who creates more often than scores goals, and who noticeably grew in confidence after the goal. This confidence led to a right-foot thunderbolt five minutes later that flew into the net from 25yards to complete a brace of top quality goals for Wilson.

With the two-goal advantage, Ilkley needed to maintain the pressure and seek a third goal to put the game beyond the reach of Hampsthwaite, but the season of goodwill saw Ilkley defenders gift the home team a lifeline late in the first-half.

Poor covering had already seen Lake divert a long cross to safety and make a good catch from a long-range shot before he was beaten from close range after dithering in defence following a free-kick into the penalty area.

A poor goal to concede so near to half-time after dominating so much of the first-half but a lesson in concentration and commitment for some players whose fitness levels find it difficult to cope with 45 minutes exercise.

The second-half required a composed and determined start by Ilkley players to quell the inevitable Hampsthwaite spurt in search of an equaliser. This was managed with the help of a brave save by Lake at the feet of a forward, but Rishworth and Giles were finding it difficult to gain clean possession in midfield and Ilkley's attacks became disjointed.

Passing and movement became pedestrian on the difficult surface, and Wilson and Horne did not hold the ball well enough to provide the springboard for attacking moves.

Just as it looked as if the threat of a Hampsthwaite equaliser was disappearing, more indecision in the Ilkley defence permitted a forward to clip the ball past Lake from ten yards with defenders expecting each other to make the tackle.

This spurred Ilkley into a spirited reply and Hannaford's near-post cross was headed just wide by Horne, before Crowther blasted over from ten yards.

As the half progressed, Ilkley players gained the ascendancy and were grateful to Wilson whose low shot evaded the 'keeper s' dive to restore Ilkley's lead and complete a personal hat-trick.

This was followed by a run and shot by Rishworth that was brilliantly tipped wide by the goalkeeper.

The introduction of Bellwood, Cummings and Mynott, reinforced some tired limbs and enabled Ilkley to gain a well-deserved away win and maintain a top-six position.

With Hall, Hughes and Taylor recovering well from injuries, pressure for starting places is increasing and it was pleasing to see former Youth team players perform with greater confidence on Saturday.

l On Saturday, Ilkley entertain Bramhope in the League Cup (Kick-off 1.30pm) at West Holmes field. Players meet at the cricket club at 12.30pm.