Featherstone Colliery 4 Ilkley Town 1

AFTER recent promising performances Ilkley suffered a relapse and were comfortably beaten in their Division One clash.

They had trouble adapting to a tricky pitch and blustery conditions and their only reward was a late consolation goal from Tom Rennolds.

Featherstone played to their strengths. They competed strongly and played direct football which saw them launch the ball into space for their willing runners.

Ilkley played into the wind in the first half and simply didn't really turn up.

Within four minutes they were behind as the ball was lost in central midfield. A simple, pass left a Featherstone forward in the clear to fire past Alex Wormall.

The lead was extended after 13 minutes when neat interplay saw the Featherstone central midfielder run unchecked before firing a shot into the roof of the net.

It was all far too easy. Ilkley were not enough exerting pressure on the ball anywhere on the pitch.

The game wasn't one for the purists, with very little football and chances kept to a minimum. Jack Murray seemed to be getting some joy on the left as he began to get more and more opportunities to support.

As half-time approached, things went from bad to worse. The ball was won far too easily in the centre of midfield and the ball played to the edge of the Ilkley penalty area, where the Featherstone midfielder took his time, two maybe three touches, without any pressure and struck sweetly his shot into the roof of the net.

The task became impossible eight minutes after the re-start. Again possession was lost far too easily and the ball was played diagonally to the left hand side.

The first-time cross was perfect for the centre forward to tap home.

Ilkley to their credit kept trying to play, and their man of the match Robbie Oldham competed throughout.

Ilkley got the consolation goal they deserved in the 85th minute, as neat interplay between Rennolds and Connor Greenwood allowed the former to find space just inside the Featherstone penalty area before scoring with an unstoppable shot.

This was a poor day at the office for Ilkley who will be hoping for a big improvement when they play at home to Headingley on Saturday.