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Top scorer Mark Houlston

Old Headingley 1 Ilkley Town 1

The game was surprisingly competitive and the draw cemented fifth place in the West Yorkshire League Division One for Ilkley Town, the team's highest ever finish in the FA's non-league football pyramid.

However, there remains a feeling of underachievement as a promotion place was undermined by sub-standard performances against teams who were relegated at the end of the season.

A 25th goal of the season by Mark Houlston gave Ilkley Town a 1-0 lead midway through the first-half after Headingley goalkeeper Shillitoe parried Nick Quaife's free-kick allowing Houlston to head in the rebound.

This was comeuppance for the Headingley keeper who had spent the previous 25 minutes constantly yelling abuse at Ilkley Town players.

Prior to the opening goal, neither side had clear goalscoring chances as defences dominated and Ilkley keeper Scott Reid was untroubled by any goal-bound shots from the home team.

Nick Smith and Andy Bloom were resolute in denying space and time to the Headingley forwards and Miles Ratcliffe quashed the potential trickery of Waites.

Headingley enjoyed more of the possession but carried little penetration and Quiafe, James Wilson and Steve Hall often found space behind the midfielders to spring some incisive attacks.

Joe Horne forced two corners after determined foraging, Houlston headed wide from a Quaife cross, and Graham Richardson had two strong runs down the left wing as Ilkley tried to add to the lead.

Both teams wilted in the second-half and just as it looked as if Ilkley had done enough to claim the points an unfortunate bobble over Bloom's foot allowed Murdoch to run into the penalty area and square the ball across Reid for Jones to prod the ball into the net despite the challenge of Matt Trimnell.

Reid did well to punch clear at a corner and his strong kicking provided a swift source of counterattack for Ilkley who used all three substitutes early in the second-half.

A neat inter-change between Allen Hey and Alan Stockdale, allowed Hey to drive a long pass out to Martin Taylor who spurted past his opponent but lifted his cross too deep, before the same player had a low cross cut-out before it reached Stockdale.

With the game swinging in Ilkley's favour, Houlston might have scored a second when he was set-up by Stockdale and crashed a shot against the outside of the post.

Then Ratcliffe marauded forward and was whisker away from converting Quaife's pass with Shillitoe rooted to the spot.

Minutes later, Hey's diagonal cross found Stockdale at the far post but his side-footed shot from eight yards drifted beyond the far post.

The final few minutes brought unnecessary controversy, as Houlston was hauled to the ground by the last defender and referee Bennett failed to issue a red card.

l Ilkley Town are seeking to recruit new players for next season and any experienced non-league players interested in joining a well-organised FA Charter Standard senior team should contact Dave Houlston on 01535 636848.

New ground developments are imminent and the team has the benefit of an FA/UEFA Advanced Licence coach and a specialist goalkeeping coach.

6:41pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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