The Ilkley AFC game against Bedale was postponed on Saturday because of the visitors involvement in the in the North Riding County Cup.

Though this disrupted a good run of form, it allowed some players to rest niggling injuries and others to maintain fitness by playing for the Reserves.

The Ilkley Reserve team was promoted last season to Division Two of the Harrogate Senior League and, after an inauspicious start to the season by losing the first match to local rivals Burley Trojans, the team has won the last five games to rise to a top five position.

The increasing quality of players throughout the senior Ilkley club has enabled competition for places in the Reserves to generate extra motivation and the last three league games have been won convincingly.

Victories over Spa Athletic 4-0 and Pool Reserves 5-0 were followed by an excellent 3-0 win at First Division Hampsthwaite in the League Challenge Cup.

On Saturday, the Reserves visited Wellington and racked up an emphatic 6-1 win with goals from Wilson 2, Stockdale 2, Smith 1 and Mynett 1.

Three promotions in three years under manager Chris Campbell has shown the progress of a team formed from the highly succesful Ilkley Youth to bridge the gap between junior and senior football.

This season has seen the former Bradford Football Development Officer Graham Morgan join the coaching team alongside specialist goalkeeping coach and FA Therapist Dave Merritt.

The Ilkley AFC and Juniors club was recently awarded the FAs Charter Standard Club of the Year Award for the North of England and provides football development opportunities for players from age seven upwards.

The club has FA qualified coaches at all age-group levels and members of the senior club teams are begining to repay formative years in the junior ranks.

First team player Graham Richardson is currently assisting with the coaching of the Under-14s.

Team-mate Joe Horne has just completed the FA/1st4Sport Certificate in Coaching (Level 1) and is working with younger age-group teams in the club to pass on the benefit of his training.

l On Saturday, Ilkley AFC first team visit Beckwithshaw (KO 2.30pm) and players should meet at the swimming pool car park at 1pm.

On the following Thursday (October 17) the team visit Nethermoor Park, Guiseley, for a Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup game against Guiseley Reserves (Kick-off 7.45pm).

This Saturday, the Ilkley Reserves entertain Pool Reserves at the Grammar School fields (players meet at 1.30pm for a 2.30pm kick-off).