Knaresborough 1 Ilkley Town 0

Ilkley visited Knaresborough for the second time this season looking to avenge their earlier league defeat and progress to the next round of the West Yorkshire League Cup.

The first half was very competitive with both teams committed to pressing the opposition. Ilkley struggled to gain any rhythm when they had possession of the ball and the first half was more a war of attrition, with Knaresborough moving the ball better as the half progressed.

Playing with a front three, Knaresborough had good movement and ability and it was through this that Knaresborough made the breakthrough with their no.10 gaining possession on the edge of the Ilkley penalty area.

From here he moved the ball, attracted a second defender to the ball before cleverly playing the ball to Fraser Lancaster who just arrived before James Hirst and slipped the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper.

It was to get worse for Ilkley as Andy Bloom in his comeback game took a tumble and had to be replaced with Danny Bryan.

This meant James Winward moved to centre half, not his natural position, and would go on to have an outstanding afternoon which would see him claim the man of the match accolade.

The second half was a much different affair as Ilkley dominated from start to finish. There was a great desire and a real quality on the ball as Ilkley started to pass it around the pitch and exploit the spaces out wide.

Dave Hancock was the first to use this space as he drove down the line, hit a sublime cross which Bryan was inches away from with a diving header.

Danny Henderson made a great run down the left, from a ball in behind the defence.

He picked out Danny Bott in the centre, who had made a great run in support, but the striker didn’t make a clean contact on the ball.

With only minutes remaining Damien Smith took on the full back, only to be upended for what seemed a certain foul, and a penalty.

Unfortunately the referee decided the defender made contact with the ball and gave a corner.

From the resulting set piece Adam Turner headed goalwards and Ben Greenhow simply put too much power on it and headed over.

That proved to be Ilkley’s final attempt to take the game into extra time, which would have been no less than they deserved.

Ilkley were disappointed to lose but look to bounce back at home to Stanley in the league on Saturday.