Colne ................................1

Ilkley Youth...................6

AFTER his recent barren spell, Alan Shearer's goal glut against hapless Sheffield Wednesday showed that goalscorers only need a spark to ignite predatory instincts.

Striker Joe Horne also found the goal touch by scoring a hat-trick in Ilkley Juniors Youth team's resounding win against last season's bogey team Colne. After a set-back against local rivals Addingham, the Guyson-sponsored Ilkley Youth produced a high quality performance in windy conditions and against a team who had provided robust opposition in previous encounters.

On a sloping pitch, Ilkley Youth had wind advantage in the first-half and the first 20 minutes of the game saw both teams vie for dominance. If Ilkley had most possession, Colne provided stubborn resistance until Horne burst through to prod narrowly wide. With Dadd and Rishworth gaining control of midfield, Ilkley Youth began to use wide players Tod and Hey in an attempt to get behind the home defence.

In a 10-minute spell midway through the first-half this tactic paid rich dividends as Tod sent Horne clear to slot home the opening goal. Soon after, Rishworth pounced on a poor clearance in the penalty area to calmly place the second Ilkley goal into the corner of the net and a Martin cross was deflected into the net for an own goal. At 3-0, and up the slope, Ilkley could have coasted to half-time but Hammond sent Hey free of the defence and Horne was on hand to volley a fourth goal as the Colne goalkeeper dropped Hey's cross.

A half-time 4-0 lead was slightly flattering, since Stewart had cleared a Colne shot off the line and goalkeeper Taylor punched clear from an in-swinging corner but Ilkley's defence experienced few difficulties. The challenge after half-time was to defend against a strengthening wind and a home team smarting from the first-half mauling. To calm any nerves, Joe Horne scored his third goal after dispossessing a home defender and blasting past a stranded Colne goalkeeper from a narrow angle. This deflated the home team's hopes of an early second-half response and galvanised the resolve of the Ilkley Youth players.

Spurred on by determined midfield play by Dadd and Rishworth, the Ilkley defenders showed resilience and composure as Colne pursued route-one tactics. Defenders Stewart, Dixon, Houlston and Hammond dealt with any threat with determination and kept a good shape, and when called upon, goalkeeper Taylor was determined and decisive.

During some inevitable pressure from the home team, Taylor tipped a long shot over the bar, Houlston and Dixon headed clear from threatening corners and Stewart produced another goal-line clearance. However, determination got the better of judgement and a push by Dixon resulted in a penalty, which was duly dispatched by Colne.

Rather than seek to defend a solid lead, this was the signal for Ilkley Youth to take control of the game as Colne tired. With Stewart and Hammond providing support from full-back positions, and Houlston becoming increasingly commanding, Hey saw his looping header hit the bar before Tod crashed the rebound over the bar.

Tod made amends by driving a cross-shot into the penalty area and the Colne goalkeeper's save dropped invitingly at the feet of Martin who made the score 6-1. Soon after, Horne was put clear and blasted the ball over when it seemed another goal was due, and this was the signal for the introduction of Stone and Selvon to maintain the pressure on a weary defence.

Both players made an immediate impact as Stone drove narrowly wide and Selvon's mazy 50-yard run saw his shot saved by the goalkeeper. With substitute Campbell adding to the attack, Colne did well to avoid further goals as Ilkley's passing and movement kept the pressure on till the final whistle blew.

Man-of-the-Match was awarded to Mark Houlston for an increasingly influential game at the heart of the defence. Newcomer from the Ilkley's U17s David Stewart had an excellent game at full-back, and Carl Dadd and Joe Horne played particularly well. However, the quality of the team's challenging and regaining of possession was the key difference from the previous game and allowed the Youth players to demonstrate superior passing and movement. A promising victory that need to be built on rather than dwelt on.

l On Saturday, the Guyson-sponsored Ilkley Youth team face the exciting challenge of Division one side Gargrave in the Northern Plant Hire Cup. Kick-off is at 2.30pm at the Grammar School playing fields.

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