Ripon Magnets 4

Ilkley AFC 2

Ilkley's unbeaten run came to a disappointing end on Saturday as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Ripon City Magnets.

Ripon lined up with a 3-5-2 system, which seemed to cause Ilkley quite a few problems in the first- half. Despite encountering similar systems in the past, Ilkley were slow to come to terms with their opposition, which allowed their midfield to get overrun.

Ripon seemed to get the benefit of every lucky bounce and rebound but that can be attributed to their higher workrate and determination in the tackle.

They took a deserved lead after half an hour, as the centre midfielder once again found himself in space and was able to spread the play wide right. He continued his run into the area and rose like a salmon to powerfully head home the well delivered cross.

Ilkley managed to get to half-time just 1-0 down but had a goal-line clearance and a mistimed header to thank for that small mercy.

They came out for the second- half with every intention of taking the game to their opponents but found themselves 2-0 down after just five minutes. Ripon's right midfielder managed to get past Stockdale and crossed from the by-line to the far post where the unmarked attacker turned the ball in.

A slight re-organisation saw Richardson replaced by Taylor at left-back and Smith coming on for Mynett. This allowed Houlston to move into a more attacking role and Stockdale to switch flanks to the right wing.

These changes seemed to have the desired effect, as Ilkley instantly began to play better football and threaten the Ripon goalkeeper and it didn't take long for Ilkley's dominance to bear fruit. Knox did well down the right and his near post cross was flicked on by Houlston who beat the 'keeper in the air to allow Davey an unchallenged short-range header to reduce the deficit to just one goal.

Ripon were rocking as Ilkley continued to press, and with around 25 minutes remaining Ilkley had turned the game around. Stockdale received the ball on the halfway line, jinked past two players and floated a cross into the area.

Houlston had made a great run off the back of his opponent and glanced a header inside the far post.

At this point it seemed only one team were capable of winning the match. Unfortunately, those thoughts were going through the minds of every Ilkley player and Ripon managed to respond in the perfect manner - within five minutes they had regained the lead. Yet another right wing cross was afforded to the home side and the centre-forward spun away from his marker and squeezed the ball inside the near post, past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Jones.

It was Ilkley's turn to be shell-shocked but the effort it took to claw a way back into the game appeared to have drained them so much that another comeback never really looked likely. The final nail was hammered into the coffin late in the game as a centre-half was given too much space in the area and scored from a corner.

Ilkley were dejected at the final whistle but in hindsight the result was a fair one. Ripon had controlled the majority of the game, save a 20 minute period in the second-half.

Ilkley will need a full 90 minute performance this weekend as they bid to progress through to the semi-finals of the Wharfedale FA Cup but Rawdon Old Boys stand in their way. The game is to be played at West Holmes kicking-off at 1.30pm.