Ilkley Town 2 Wetherby Athletic 1

A goal in extra time by Phil Thommesen sealed victory for Ilkley Town in this West Yorkshire League Cup Second Round game against Premier Division side Wetherby Athletic at Ben Rhydding.

The match was finely poised as both sides struggled to exert authority on a fine autumnal afternoon, yet Ilkley spurned more goal-scoring opportunities than their opponents who favoured a more direct football approach.

Despite facing opponents from a higher division, Ilkley’s players made a frenetic start to the game with passes going astray.

They were being hurried in possession as Wetherby exerted a faster tempo to the match than is normal in Division One.

Gradually, Ilkley’s players became accustomed to the faster tempo and began to press Wetherby onto the defensive with Danny Henderson’s dribbling causing problems on the left wing and James Wilson beginning to drive the team forwards from midfield.

Needing to capitalise on this period of relative domination, Ilkley scored a fortunate opening goal on the half-hour when Joe Hendrie’s through ball was contested by Thommesen as Wetherby ‘keeper Senior committed himself on the edge of the penalty-area and his clearance rebounded into a recovering defender and bounced into the net.

The game was competitive with neither side holding periods of sustained control in the first-half and this was replicated in the second 45 minutes as the match went to-and-from without any clear goal-scoring chances.

Ilkley had a slight territorial advances and Ross Hutchison blazed wide from the edge of the box after Hendrie’s corner was headed clear before Hendrie hit a screamer inches over the bar after cutting-in from the right.

At the other end, James Hirst did well to block at close range from Dickie after the Wetherby striker benefited from a close offside decision and was thankful when a free-kick whizzed over the bar.

A spate of fouls disrupted the flow of the game and Henderson had to be replaced after being injured following a nasty challenge from behind.

After 75 minutes, Wetherby equalised when the Ilkley players ‘went to sleep’ allowing Blewitt to thread the ball behind Dexter for Dickie to score.

The game entered extra-time with Ilkley pressing forwards more frequently than Wetherby and the home side took the lead in the opening period after the best passing move of the game.

The ball was moved quickly between James Hanna, Mark Houlston and Damian Smith before the latter set-up Thommesen to drill the ball high into the net.

Ilkley Town face Ventus Yeadon Celtic in the Wharfedale Challenge Cup quarter final on Saturday at Ben Rhydding (1.30pm).