Ilkley Town u-17s 2 Tockwith u-17s 0

Ilkley Town under-17s ended their junior career by completing a Harrogate & District League double under manager Peter Hopkinson.

Firstly, playing at Wetherby Athletic Sports Club, they won the League Cup final with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Tockwith.

After a cagy opening, on 17 minutes the ball fell to captain Conor Bransfield, who hit a long-range shot into the top-left corner of the goal over Tockwith’s tall keeper.

The rest of the first half was tight, with defence thwarting att-ack. As the second half progressed, the game opened up, with Ilkley starting to dominate possession.

But, despite strong pressure, it was Tockwith who came closest to scoring. Twice they created chances, only for Ilkley goalkeeper Alex Wormall to pull off outstanding saves.

Ilkley maintained their pressing game and, midway through the second half, finally secured a level of comfort when Alistair Adams neatly finished Sam Everett’s low cross.

Five minutes from time, the ref-eree awarded Tockwith a penalty, but Wormall turned the hard, low drive away from goal.

Later that afternoon, following Pannal Sports’ defeat, Ilkley were also confirmed as league cham-pions. In 22 league and cup matches, they had 17 wins, three draws and just two defeats, the second of them in a meaningless end-of-season match.

Ilkley went unbeaten for over six months (17 games) and finished as top scorers in all competitions with 103 goals and had the meanest defence, conceding just 27. Charlie Sykes again finished Harrogate League top scorer with 30 goals from 20 appearances, and Adams was second with 25 in 18. Bransfield netted 11 times.