Kellingley Welfare 1

Ilkley AFC 4

Ilkley continued their good run of form by beating Kellingley Welfare in the rain on Saturday afternoon, in a game that was packed with incident.

Martin Jones returned to replace Dave Bainbridge in goal, and Martin Taylor was unfortunate not to regain his place after missing a week through injury. Ilkley's early season injury problems do seem to be easing, and that has coincided with their improvement in results.

Both teams have endured inconsistent starts to the season and could only be separated by goal difference before kick-off. The slippery pitch encouraged a fast tempo, which seemed to suit Ilkley's passing game. Ilkley opened the scoring after 15 minutes following some clever play and a good finish.

Chris Mynett received the ball in the air and played a perfectly weighted first time back heel into Jimmy Hannaford's path, who took one touch before chipping the 'keeper from just inside the area.

Ilkley should have doubled their lead moments later as Hannaford latched onto Stockdale's through ball before being upended by the 'keeper in the area.

Hannaford stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort clip the post and go wide for a goal kick. It wasn't long before he could make amends however, as a free-flowing move down the left involving Davey and Richardson resulted in the full-back firing in a low cross toward the near post.

Mynett got in front of the defender, but both players failed to connect with the cross and Hannaford was on hand to pass the ball into the empty net at the back stick.

Ilkley were in full control, which was exaggerated when Kellingley's full-back lost his senses and aimed a head-butt at Hannaford. The referee showed him a red card, which gave Ilkley a great opportunity to put their opponents to the sword. It looked as if a big margin of victory was inevitable when Ilkley scored their third.

Mark Houlston was the beneficiary of some lovely passing and movement off the ball as the visitors tore through their beleaguered hosts defence, culminating in a clever reverse pass by Davey.

This afforded the right winger time to compose himself and place a left foot shot inside the 'keepers right hand post.

With about ten minutes remaining in the first-half, Ilkley began to sit on their advantage and allow Kellingley to keep possession of the ball, which gave them increasing confidence to take into the second-half.

With the home crowd at their backs, Ilkley knew that Kellingley would come at them with everything if they were given a scent of a result, but the away side still allowed a centre midfielder to head home a free-kick as he drifted away from his marker.

With score now at 3-1, the match was back in the balance but Ilkley still seemed to be playing as if the result were a foregone conclusion. Another lapse in concentration let a centre-forward in behind the defence but Jones saved his first effort. As the ball ricocheted off people's knees and shins it eventually fell to the forwards' feet, who was ready to apply the simple finish before the despairing Bloom inexplicably punched the ball clear.

The hapless defender was shown the inevitable red card and Kellingley had a chance to reduce the deficit to just one goal. With the teams at ten men each and the home side in the ascendancy, an excellent penalty save by Jones, at full stretch to his left, halted the home teams' progress.

Adam Davey was pushed back into defence to partner Trimnell and Chris Mynett made way for Martin Taylor as Ilkley looked to retain some shape.

Hannaford led the line and did his best to hold the ball up before eventually being replaced by Horne who provided fresh legs and plenty of running. In the final moments of the game, Ilkley put the final nail in the coffin.

Houlston played the ball forward to Horne who released Wilson as he made a break forward from midfield. He outpaced the defence and finished well from the edge of the box with his right foot.

l Ilkley face Street Work Soccer on Saturday who are currently riding high in the league and have been unbeaten so far this season. The match kicks-off at 2.30pm.