Ilkley AFC 6

Upper Armley 0

Ilkley completed the double over Upper Armley Old Boys in comprehensive style on Saturday. In contrast to recent weeks, Ilkley started the game brightly and looked very comfortable on their home pitch, which was in fine condition.

Playing against the wind in the first-half, Ilkley took the game to their opponents from the first whistle and harried Armley all over the pitch. The Ilkley forwards, Horne and Stockdale, gave the visiting defenders little time on the ball and forced them into hurried clearances which lacked accuracy and rarely found a team-mate.

This meant they were never allowed to settle into any kind of rhythm, and the home team took advantage and maintained possession well. Ilkley managed to reach the edge of the Armley penalty area in nearly every attack but through a combination of a poor final ball and desperate defending, they could only manage to create half-chances.

The breakthrough came midway through the first-half. Ilkley forced a corner on the right, and Richardson put in a perfect in-swinging delivery. Stockdale lost his marker and connected with the cross five yards out. The 'keeper made a valiant effort to keep the ball out but was unfortunate as his parry went in off the post. It was the least Ilkley had deserved as they had controlled the first-half in its entirety.

The return of Nick Quaife to centre of their midfield had a big impact, as his composure on the ball spread confidence throughout the rest of the team. It was through his passing Ilkley mounted most of their attacks and he showed just what Ilkley have been missing during his absences this season.

The half finished 1-0, with the visiting team at full stretch to keep Ilkley at bay. Playing against the wind in the second-half seemed to suit the visitors.

The speculative long balls that had been harmlessly running out of play were now being held up in the wind and forced the Ilkley defence of Braithwaite, Davey, Bloom and Richardson to deal with attacks with more regularity.

Ilkley continued to have the best of the possession, however, but still found it difficult to create clear-cut opportunities.

Just ten minutes into the second-half, Armley had the best chance of the game to that point when Bloom tried to help on a short goal kick.

His misdirected header inadvertently fell to the Armley forward who played in his strike partner. Ilkley were to thank Taylor in goals, recalled to the starting line-up after a two-year absence, as he narrowed the angle and made an excellent save.

Shortly afterwards, another lapse in concentration meant a corner was only half cleared.

As the ball came back into the area, Taylor came out collect it. In shepherding the ball to his 'keeper, the Armley players felt Bloom had impeded their centre-forward but the referee waved away their claims for a penalty despite vehement protestations. To make matters worse, the Ilkley 'keeper's clearance fell to Stockdale on the half-way line.

He was labouring slightly after picking up an injury moments earlier, and he was unchallenged as he waited for Martin Taylor to make an overlapping run down the right wing.

The offside trap was well beaten by the pass inside the full back and Taylor was allowed to race toward goal alone.

His shot/cross evaded the 'keeper and covering defender and allowed Damian Smith to tap home from short range. The visiting players were indignant and they made their feelings perfectly clear to the referee who was very lenient in view of the nature of some of the protests.

Barrow replaced Stockdale and Ilkley sought to take full advantage as Armley lost their discipline. Taylor received the ball in the centre of the park.

As the visiting defence pushed high up the field anticipating a through ball, Taylor cleverly ran the ball through unchallenged and bore down on goal once again.

As the 'keeper came out, Taylor smashed the ball straight at him and Barrow retrieved it to square the ball to Smith, who again had an easy finish to make the score 3-0.

Just minutes later, Richardson fired in another good delivery from a corner, but was surprised to see the 'keeper misjudge it and allow the ball to go in at the far post unaided.

The Armley players frustrations then got the better of them as one of their substitutes, who had only been on the field a matter of minutes, threw a punch at Joe Horne.

The Ilkley player dropped to the floor like he'd been shot and the assailant saw red. From the resulting free-kick, Jamie Barrow fired in a great left footed effort into the top corner to make the score 5-0.

Smith completed the scoring a few minutes before time as his first effort rebounded back to him off the crossbar and he was left with another easy finish to complete his hat-trick.

Ilkley travel to Kippax Welfare this week and need to continue their winning ways, as the other teams in contention for promotion also maintained their good form.

Meet at Ilkley Swimming Pool at 12.15pm for a 2.15pm kick-off.