Ilkley Town 2 Headingley 2

A LATE equaliser forced Ilkley Town to settle for a West Yorkshire League Premier Division draw at balmy Ben Rhydding on Saturday.

Goals from Adam Davey and Lee Spires had looked set to secure a precious win until Jonathan McKinley struck.

Despite this Town are four points clear of fourth from bottom Oxenhope as they battle to retain their to-flight status.

After an even opening 15 minutes, Headingley took the lead when Lewis Keating rose to head home from a free kick.

Ilkley responded immediately as Joe Hendrie saw his ferocious long-range strike go just over the bar.

Lee Spires was next to go close as his free kick whistled narrowly over the bar, much to the relief of Headingley keeper Daniel Hibbert.

Headingley should have gone further ahead in the 35th minute. Ashley Austin slipped the offside trap with two players free on his left, but he chose to attempt an audacious chip which went wide of James Hirst's goal.

He was also denied by a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Tim Edney just before half-time after he took the ball around Hirst.

Town had to wait until the 56th minute for an equaliser. Dave Hancock’s long throw into the box caused havoc but Davey was quickest to react to smash the ball home.

Hendrie almost put Ilkley in front when his long range effort took a wicked deflection and hit the underside of the bar before being cleared away.

Town were adamant the ball had crossed the line, but the referee disagreed.

James Turland missed a golden chance when he scooped his shot over the bar following a good run from Jack Murray and a cross from Davey.

Town took the lead in the 73rd minute. This time it was James Wilson’s long throw into the box caused panic in the defence and Spires slammed the ball home.

Joint first team manager Greg Beswick said: “We are definitely disappointed. For the most part we have been the better side.

“The positive though is that we have managed to hold on and get something from the game.

"We haven’t just rolled over and collapsed we fought right to the end. “We haven't lost in three games so the momentum is good.”