Ilkley AFC 2

Stanley United 1

Ilkley AFC made hard work of defeating visitors Stanley, but did enough to record the fourth consecutive victory and remain unbeaten in the team's inaugural West Yorkshire League campaign.

Maintaining leadership of Division Two proved harder than anticipated as Ilkley had to recover from a goal behind against battling and competitive opponents.

In blustery conditions, Ilkley might have taken the lead in the first minute when Alan Stockdale and Damian Smith combined and Smith's low cross became entangled in Joe Horne's feet as he tried to steer the ball past Fox. Five minutes later, Horne did well to wriggle past Burden but his swerving shot drifted over the bar.

Ilkley captain David Knox saw his 15-yard drive safely collected by the overworked Fox. Meanwhile, some complacency in the Ilkley defence allowed Rowley to drift unmarked into the penalty area and, as Ilkley 'keeper Martin Jones narrowed the angle, the shot hit the inside of the far post and Matthew Trimnell cleared the danger.

A warning for Ilkley, as the Stanley team was combative all over the pitch, never giving Ilkley players chance to settle and the home side were forced to re-organise after David Dixon twisted his ankle and was replaced by Paul McTigue. The need to re-shuffle the defensive playing positions was compounded when Stanley took the lead after 20 minutes.

The lively Rowley once again drifted behind a static Ilkley defence and, drawing Ilkley 'keeper Jones his low cross was sidefooted into the open goal by Whelan, with Ilkley defenders chasing shadows. A scramble from a corner and a fumble by Jones almost conceded a second goal to the visitors as Ilkley found it difficult to cope with the commitment and determination of the Stanley players.

Yet Ilkley might have scored in almost every attack the team mounted, as Stanley's commitment to push forwards was matched by the side's poor defending, as McTigue and Smith found space in wide positions.

Both players delivered high quality crosses into the penalty area, from which Nick Quaife shot over when well-placed, Stockdale headed inches wide and Horne dragged the ball wide of the far post. Thankfully, the equaliser came after 35 minutes when Richardson broke from defence and his excellent cross-field pass set Stockdale clear and he confidently drilled the ball low past Fox.

This settled Ilkley who finished the half much the stronger team with further chances to score being spurned as Stanley's defence was pulled apart. Despite a brief flurry at the beginning of the second-half, Stanley were on-the-back-foot as Ilkley players worked hard to find a second goal.

Once again several chances were spurned, as Richardson and Smith on Ilkley's left tormented the Stanley defence, and the Ilkley defenders showed much greater resolve to win the ball and spring attacking moves.

Ilkley's second goal came on the hour when Matthew Trimnell broke forward and combined with Quaife to feed the McTigue, who saw his first attempt to cross blocked before he lifted the rebound to the far post where Stockdale calmly headed the ball home.

A well crafted goal that should have been added to as Stanley players wilted but try as they might to add a decisive third goal, Ilkley managed to miss chances that on other days would have been taken. The introduction of Jamie Barrow added extra fire-power for Ilkley but even last season's top-scorer could not find the target.

The final whistle was welcomed by Ilkley on a day when the score should have been in double figures but could so easily have been a draw.

For Saturday, the Ilkley fixture has yet to be confirmed by the West Yorkshire League.