Ilkley U-7s enjoy Leeds experience

Ilkley were initially overawed by the facilities on offer and were more than impressed with the artificial grass of the indoor training pitch.

Ilkley were drawn in Group One and were up against competition they had never encountered before within their previous friendly matches.

Ilkley U-7s 1

Wrenthorpe Rangers 0

Ilkley's first game was a tight affair. Matthew Ellis, Blake Wood and Charlie Nixon worked hard to gain the upperhand in the early encounters which were contested largely in midfield.

Ilkley's first chance came from Blake's robust tackle and quick pass to Matthew whose sweet strike was well saved by Wrenthorpe's No 1.

As the game progressed, the opposition attacked down both flanks but resolute defending from William Bradley and Harry Patterson backed up by agile keeping by Simon Bailey ensured a clean sheet for Ilkley.

A deserved victory was secured with a fiercely struck goal by the lively Charlie.

Ilkley U-7s 0

Gomersal and Cleck 1

Ilkley's only defeat of the tournament proved to be against the eventual finalists and winners and, had the result been reversed, Ilkley would have replaced them in the final.

Gomersal's route one tactics resembled Wimbledon of old as at every opportunity their 'keeper pummelled the Ilkley defence with howitzer-like clearances. I

lkley's big trio of Ben Jarvis, Jack Paul and Daniel Pelkowski strove manfully to withstand this aerial bombardment but a moment of indecision allowed the Gomersal striker enough time to fire a bouncing ball into the roof of the net.

Ilkley were unlucky not to get straight back on level terms as first Simon Bailey went close from a solo run down the right wing and then a neat interchange of passes between William Fitzpatrick and Ben Jarvis saw the latter's piledriver saved.

Blake Wood had to be at his very best to keep Gomersal at bay in the closing moments.

Ilkley U-7s 0

Garforth Villa 0

As goal-free games go, this was exciting with Ilkley playing good passing football and creating several opportunities.

The tempo of the game was set in the very first minute when Blake Wood made a blistering break down the left flank and played an intelligent ball into the path of Harry Patterson whose shot on the run forced a great save from the Villa 'keeper.

Following a good save from Garforth's only shot on goal, Ben Jarvis released William Bradley whose neat pass allowed Matthew Ellis to shoot narrowly wide.

Coming on as substitute for the injured Matthew, Simon Bailey linked well with Charlie Nixon and Blake Wood to create a space for Harry Patterson to unleash a piledriver which went agonisingly close to bringing a late winner for Ilkley.

Ilkley U-7s 1

York Elite 0

In their last run-out of the evening, Ilkley were again in the ascendancy for large parts of the game. With Blake Wood and Jack Paul solid in defence, 'keeper Daniel Pelkowski had only one save to make.

His clearance from this found Simon Bailey who showed some super skill to create a chance for Charlie Nixon to fire a long-range shot.

Ilkley threatened down the left wing with William Fitzpatrick and Blake Wood winning a corner as they tried to get round the back of the determined York defence.

York broke from the corner but the well-positioned Jack Paul made a strong tackle to avert the danger.

Another stalemate looked on the cards until William Fitzpatrick made a jinking run past two defenders to give him the room to shoot the winner into the bottom corner of the net.

The evening ended on a satisfied note with all team members being presented with a certificate from the evening and four of the squad being selected to attend a six week training session at the academy.

Thanks go to Leeds United's Terry Potter for organising the event which was enjoyed by parents and children from all competing teams.

Sunday saw four teams from the Ilkley Juniors Under-7 section 60 strong squad play hosts to Wigton Moor for a friendly, but nevertheless competitive, five-a-side tournament. This was followed by a seven-a-side match.

Ilkley split into four teams Reds, Blues, Greens and Yellows and each played four matches against the Wigton Moor teams.

Playing conditions were tricky after heavy and persistent rain, but all teams lifted the large crowd with some exciting and open football.

In the five aside matches for Ilkley Reds and Greens the overall outcome was four wins and four defeats.

Goals for Ilkley were scored by William Fitzpatrick, Sam Corbett, Joe Kehoe, James Doyle and Simon Bailey.

The two Ilkley goalkeepers Max Colburn and Michael Kingsman were kept busy by the Wigton Moor teams but gave good accounts of themselves.

The goals scored by Ilkley were made possible through the efforts of Oliver Hopkinson-Cook and Dan Pelkowski.

In the following seven-a-side match the Reds and Greens combined and ran out winners with a strong 3-0 performance with a brace of goals from William Fitzpatrick and a long range goal from Jack Paul.

In the five-a-side matches for Ilkley Blues and Yellows the final outcome was two wins, two draws and four defeats.

Ilkley unveiled a fluid passing game with Calum Tong making excellent runs and Matty Iliff putting in some important tackles.

Alistair Clarke played well and made some crucial defensive clearances whilst Charlie Nixon made good runs and was unlucky not to score.

Ben Jarvis scored a stunning hat-trick and worked hard throughout every game.

Oliver Dunne put in a low, hard drive that was only just turned round the post by the 'keeper but Matthew Ellis earned Ilkley a hard-fought draw, showing good positional sense to sniff-out a crucial goal. Jack Mawson and Harry Patterson showed good discipline and made some good runs and strong tackles as Ilkley came under considerable pressure towards the end with Adam Barnes making many good interceptions and scoring a stunning long range goal.

In the seven-a-side match the Blues and Yellows were defeated by Wigton Moor.

All players enjoyed this tournament and were well supported by parents. For some of the Ilkley Juniors this was their first competitive game.

Menston Rovers 3

Eccleshill U-15s 5

Although buoyed by an excellent performance against high-riding Queensbury the previous week, Menston were struck by illness and injury going into this match. Only 11 players were fit and available for duty.

The two sides seemed well-matched initially, Eccleshill being a passing side with a couple of tricky forwards and some useful wide men. Early on they got behind the Menston defence a couple of times.

The first goal game after a moment's hesitation between Baker in goal and the Rovers' defence as a nippy Eccleshill striker latched on to a through ball and lifted it over Baker.

This seemed to fire Rovers up and Knox chased one ball down, leading to the 'keeper making a clumsy clearance which fell straight to Morvaridi who buried it. Knox then had a couple of close efforts.

Eccleshill were dangerous on the break though, and a Rovers defensive misunderstanding allowed their centre-forward to nip in again and bury the ball past Baker.

Rovers conceded a questionable goal where two players appeared to be off-side.

The scoreline of 3-1 was not a fair reflection of the balance of play. Menston were therefore delighted when Man-of-the-Match Will Knox got just reward for his tenacity when he shot in off the underside of the bar following a scramble ten yards out.

In the second-half Menston showed strength of character and battled hard. There were no more goals for the first 20 minutes and it was clearly going to take something special to break through the Rovers defence.

But that is what Eccleshill produced with a 25-yard screamer into the top corner.

This galvanised Menston, who then proceeded to put together the move of the match, a blistering exchange of passes down the left between Little, Brookfield, Little and Morvaridi, which led to Knox forcing the 'keeper to turn the ball round the post.

From the ensuing corner Brookfield flicked on a near post header for Morvarid to rise at the far post and nod the ball home.

Menston continued to press forward and put the Ecclehill defence under pressure. But ultimately it was a vicious swinging Eccleshill corner which finished the game off, going directly in.