disappointed

Harlow Hill 3

Ilkley AFC 2

ILKLEY AFC again came away from a game empty handed when they did enough to at least earn a share of the spoils in this Division One clash at second-placed Harlow Hill.

Ilkley worked their socks off and forged in front twice, only to see victory snatched from their grasp 15 minutes from time.

It was not a fiercely-fought game by any mean but good passing and skilful play was shown in abundance on a wide pitch that encouraged this type of game.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks, eager to put behind them the under-par performance of the previous week and when Antony Duttine raced through to latch on to a nicely-weighted pass from Roberts, he coolly slotted the ball past the 'keeper and into the net.

It was just the start Ilkley wanted and before Harlow had time to settle the hosts could easily have fallen further behind.

Sergio Galasso, who has rapidly improved his all-round game, tore Harlow apart down the left when he barged his way through in the tenth minute, Buchanan blasting inches wide from the winger's cut back.

The Harrogate side then began to string some moves together and this lifted morale.

Then a flowing move by Ilkley saw Richard Giles' rasping strike saved at the foot of the post after good work by Clark and Buchanan down the right.

The contest swung back and forth and at this stage it would have taken a brave man to bet on the final result because chances in the first-half were plentiful. Harlow again rattled the bar while down the other end Forrest's shot was somehow cleared off the line.

After this came Harlow's equaliser. A long ball over the top found the home striker looking offside but the official waved play on and the ball was hammered past a helpless Ilkley 'keeper.

Fuming with the decision, Ilkley immediately restored their lead, with some of their best football this season. Roberts, Clark and Duttine combined to set up Giles, who, with his back to goal, turned on a sixpence to strike home a beauty into the far top corner of the Harlow net.

The second-half continued to be evenly poised. Galasso down the left showed electrifying pace and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when he left the Harlow defence for dead, only to be thwarted by a brave 'keeper.

Player-manager Stuart Forrest was shown the yellow card after another dubious off-side decision had a major part in Harlow's second equaliser. Forrest, Bloom and Taylor at the back now had no trust in the official and as a result the Ilkley side began to look nervous with 15 minutes still remaining.

A draw would have been a good result for the visitors, however, they failed to hang on. A perfect cross found the Harlow striker who headed home at the back door, unmarked.

Match points went to Galasso and Giles, although all the lads played well. This Saturday they visit leaders Boston Spa.(Meet at Ilkley CC at 1.30pm.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.