Ilkley Juniors u-17s 4 Wetherby u-17s 3

The 2015 Harrogate & District Junior League Under-17s Cup Final was an exciting and tense match, with league champions Ilkley and runners-up Wetherby putting on a spectacle of quality football.

For a long spell it looked as though Ilkley had the cup safely won, despite playing 60 minutes with only ten men.

Tom Stephens opened the scoring with a fine header from a pinpoint Tom Kerr cross.

A handball prevented a Wetherby equaliser and the referee had no alternative than to pull out a red card and award a penalty. Sam Lewis made a crucial save, and Ilkley then rubbed salt into the Wetherby wounds by extending their lead through Alex Henney.

Wetherby started the second half strongly and forced Tom Stephens to clear off the Ilkley line but Alex Macpherson scored with a powerful strike from outside the box.

With just ten minutes remaining Wetherby pulled one back and then added another from a free-kick.

With just two minutes of normal time remaining, a pass from Ryan Croft found Benji Claydon, who clinically rounded the Wetherby keeper and tapped the ball home. Wetherby responded with another goal but Ilkley held on until the final whistle.

Ilkley coach Don O’Connor said: "The lads have been brilliant all season and it’s been a privilege to coach them over the past two years. This was a tight match but they held their nerve and showed their maturity.”