Bilton 0

Ilkley U-11s 3

ILKLEY Under-11s travelled to Bilton with a weaker side than they would have liked as Harrogate and Leeds have different half terms and so some players were away on holiday.

On a small pitch the first-half was a very scrappy affair and did not leave much room for Ilkley's usual swift passing game.

They were very slow to start and were always second to the ball. Bilton tried to capitalise on this as they assumed that they may get something from this game.

In the second-half the home side came at Ilkley but the solid back four of Richard Blears, Richard Thackray, Ben Batters and Man-of-the-Match Daniel Henderson stood firm to frustrate the home side.

Midway through the second-half Ilkley finally broke down a packed goalmouth defence and the ball was pulled back by Richard Sharpe for James Davidson to drive home from close range to give Ilkley the lead.

The second was much of the same as the ball bounced around Bilton's 18 yard box with several attempts to clear. The ball eventually fell to the feet of Rytes MacDonald who scored from close range on his debut.

Bilton came back again at Ilkley but skipper Richard Ettenfield led from the front making some excellent stopping tackles with Andrew Bailey sweeping in and around the half-way line the home side could not find a way through.

Ilkley's third came from Richard Sharpe whose sheer determination led him to drive the ball over from six yards for his 24th goal of the season.

This was not a text book performance from Ilkley but they did collect the valuable three points on a poor pitch with a slightly changed team.

Man-of-the-Match was Daniel Henderson.

l On Sunday Ilkley entertain Leeds Maccabi kicking-off at 1 pm.

Ilkley U-10s A 5

Gomersdal 1

Ilkley Under-10s A recorded their sixth win of the season after an even first-half against Gomersal.

Ilkley failed to produce the flowing football which has enabled them to dominate recent matches.

The 1-1 half-time scoreline clearly disappointed the team and they showed an altogether more positive approach after the break.

Greater sharpness in the tackle and a more intelligent use of the short pass allowed Ilkley to take control with two goals in quick succession.

Continued dominance enabled them to canter to a comfortable win with goals from Chris Holmes (2), Liam Blenkhorn (2) and Robert Cowey.

Ilkley U-10s A 1

Sandy Lane 0

This was a very tight game but Ilkley always had the edge and created more chances. Effective defending by Lane however restricted them to the one goal from Liam Blenkhorn.

This win deservedly took Ilkley into second place in the league. William Falkingham was outstanding in defence.

Otley U-9s A 2

Ilkley Juniors U-9s A 4

Ilkley began the match in determined mood and boasted a two-goal lead after only 10 minutes.

David Wilson netted the first, following in on a Richard Atkins effort, and Thomas Dakin grabbed number two.

This was a good start from an Ilkley side missing three regular first team players.

Daniel Bott sustained a wrist injury in a tackle but following a visit to Wharfedale General returned to the ground, removed his sling and played the second half of the B team match.

A defensive lapse led to Otley winning three successive corners from which they eventually scored.

A feature of Ilkley's game was the fine instinctive passing between Wilson and Dakin. They combined with man of the match George Thompson to put the Otley defence under constant pressure.

Just before the interval Otley almost equalised but Atkins cleared off the line.

The second- half saw Dakin hit the post and efforts from Alex Turner and Jonathan Stevens both went close. William Rudman made a number of good saves but Otley netted a fine goal from a corner to make it 2-2.

This setback appeared to sharpen Ilkley's resolve and only the woodwork prevented the visitors regaining the lead.

The third goal finally arrived care of the Dakin/Wilson combination, the latter player firing home.

Rudman made another good save to preserve Ilkley's lead but victory was secured when Thomas Dakin netted number four with a powerful drive.

Otley U-9s B 3

Ilkley Juniors U-9s B 0

The visitors were forced onto the back foot from the start and an own goal in the sixth minute gave Otley the lead.

Poor defensive play just three minutes later allowed Otley to double their lead. Ilkley began to come more into the game after this and it remained 2-0 at the interval.

Ilkley started the second-half with more confidence but they could not get in the vital pass in front of goal.

Otley broke away to score a third goal 12 minutes into the half. Ilkley's man of the match was Louie Bleazard.

Ilkley Juniors U-14s 7

Thackley U-14s 2

Ilkley will be hoping to remain at the top of the league with only six games to go.

Thackley scored first but their offside tactics played right into Ilkley's hands. With the pace of Hibbert and Killhooley Ilkley roared into a 4-1 interval lead.

Hibbert scored twice with Teasdale and Killhooley claiming one each.

The second half was much the same. Hibbert completed a hat trick and was replaced by Blair who dropped into his familiar midfield role.

Some flowing football produced further goals from Weir and Darroch. An Ilkley dismissal could prove costly however with the player facing a 35 day suspension.

Ratcliffe was voted man of the match.

Long Lee U-13s 0

Ilkley Juniors U-13s 2

Ilkley visited Long Lee well aware that they faced a very tough match.

In fairness, the resulting 70 minutes produced an enthralling match with two totally committed teams giving everything as they battled for every ball.

The positive reactions of both sets of supporters was most rewarding as a genuinely physical contest was played out without any malicious foul play to be seen.

With very little to choose between the teams, the opening goal was always going to be vital. Fortunately this fell to Ilkley, as Mat Stephenson fed David Tod out wide on the wing. His cross fell into the path of Thomas Davidson who somehow managed to direct the ball via a post into the net.

The welcome addition at half-time of Ross Kennedy into midfield gave the tiring Ilkley side a boost.

Steven Brown and Graeme Bevington continued to battle for possession and were rewarded when a clever through-pass was coolly despatched by Thomas Davidson with a swerving strike.

Manager's points went to Mat Holmes and Steven Brown who both again produced quality performances.

Peter Hibbert capped a fine defensive display, winning man of the match, but credit equally goes to all the squad for grinding out two vital league points.

Ilkley U-15s 8

Alwoodley U-15s 1

The Under-15s had been very disappointed to be beaten 3-2 at Alwoodley on the second day of the season; and gained a full and thorough revenge with an outstanding team performance in this return fixture.

Goals came regularly throughout the game, and from all areas of the field, as Ilkley put together some neat passing football. Those to find the net were Young, Dibb, Cilenti, Mazurke (two), Lloyd and Lees, and Alwoodley contributed an own goal. The thrust of this performance came from the midfield engine room of Milner, Lees and Mazurke who together with strikers Young, Dibb and sub Cilenti, put together some attractive attacking football - with Mazurke taking Ilkley's Match Point for his best performance of the season so far. Once again there was a more solid look about Ilkley's defence, with Lloyd and Kierman outstanding, and Tomlinson, Brightman, Eustace and sub Spiers all giving solid performances; deserving a clean sheet which they were just a shade unlucky to miss out on. Zaki in goals had little to do throughout the game thanks to his team-mate's efforts, but his sure handling and confidence in the area added to the strength of this improving defence. A win at Stansfield 'B' next week (kick-off 2.00pm) could take Ilkley into fourth place in the table.

Ilkley U-10s B 1

Gomersal 1

Ilkley Under-10s B, on the basis of their top spot in the league and their previous performances against Gomersal, may well have approached this fixture with too much confidence.

They squandered some early chances and a very competitive Gomersal side deserverdly went ahead by half-time.

In the second-half Ilkley fought hard for an equaliser but again missed chances that they would have normally buried.

Owen Tizard's clever turn saw him shoot under the 'keeper for the equaliser. Edward Ainscoe was outstanding in defence.

Ilkley U-10s B 4

Sandy Lane 2

Against Sandy Lane it was very much a game of two halves. Ilkley dominated the first with Edward Ainscoe scoring all four goals.

However with the wind behind them in the second-half Sandy Lane were a different proposition and they pulled back to 4-2.

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