Ilkley AFC 4

Tockwith AFC 1

ILKLEY progressed to the third round of the Harrogate District Challenge Cup following a hard fought encounter at Denton Road on Saturday.

With the exception of Ashley Roberts the home side were back to full strength against fellow division one opponents.

Ilkley started as though they meant business, challenging hard for the 50-50 balls and winning the majority of tackles.

The Ilkley pitch looked a far cry from the one the visitors boast but still both sides played the ball to feet as much as possible. The players with a poor first touch were quickly exposed and it was the players who showed the more refined technique.

Midway through the first half, a slick build up produced a finish to match. Bellwood, Giles, Long and Kelly all saw the ball before Alan Stockdale finished with a

curling strike, beating the keeper from the angle of the box.

Tockwith then forced a couple of corners which Ilkley had to deal with, but it was the home side who then added to their lead through Kelly.

Tockwith then pulled a goal back following a good move down the right. Ilkley keeper Middleton made a superb save to his right. Unfortunately the ball ended up in the back of the net as Andy Bloom's clearance went the wrong side of the post from Ilkley's point of view.

Like all good players Bloom lifted his head and continued to perform with style. This was also true of defensive colleagues David Taylor, Matt Long and Man-of-the-Match Chris Marsh.

As the contest entered the second half it remained it remained evenly poised until a spectacular finish from midfielder Richard Giles sealed the game for Ilkley. Giles picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, beat two defenders and chipped the keeper from 20 yards.

Tockwith rattled the crossbar with a well taken free kick but that was the closest they came.

Ilkley began to break through the Tockwith defence and Stockdale went close to grabbing his second. Chris Mynett then saw his cracking drive on the turn flicked wide by the Tockwith keeper.

Richard Wilson replaced Stockdale with 15 minutes remaining.

Bellwood then latched on to a terrific through ball and was felled by the onrushing Tockwith keeper. The referee had no option but to produce the red card.

Down to 10 men and trailing 3-1 Tockwith never caved in and made Ilkley work hard.

John Sayers grabbed number four with five minutes to go, drilling home after Kelly's shot had been parried by the visiting keeper.

l This Saturday Ilkley are in cup action again as they travel to Spa Athletic.

The following two weeks will see Ilkley entertain Burley Trojans, firstly in a league clash followed by the Wharfedale Challenge Cup quarter final tie.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.