Ilkley Town 2 Tyersal 2 (Tyersal won 6-2 AET)

The West Riding County FA required Ilkley Town’s County Cup tie against Tyersal to be replayed following an error by the referee in last week’s match and, after an absorbing game that once again went to extra-time,Tyersal overpowered the home side when Ilkley were effectively reduced to nine men.

It is disappointing to report that the replacement referee managed to spoil a great contest booking four players and sending one off when there wasn’t a malicious challenge in the game. Ilkley Town welcomed back Nick Smith and Dean Henderson to the starting line-up, and then provided a scintillating half-hour of football that saw them take a 2-0 lead.

The quality of surface at Ben Rhydding encourages swift passing and movement, and Ilkley began at a tempo that was difficult to match with James Wilson and Matt Trimnell dominating midfield and allowing Dan Henderson and Tom Rennolds chance to find space in wide positions.

The opening goal after 15 minutes followed an inter-change of passes between Wilson and Daz Munday that sent Rennolds into space on the edge of the penalty area.

His low cross was swept past Willis by Henderson.

Encouraged by this lively start, Ilkley repelled some set pieces by Tyersal and then score a second after 30 minutes when Rennolds and Munday combined again to move the ball to Stockdale on the edge of the penalty area.

He turned past his marker and dinked the ball over the on-rushing Willis.

The response from Tyersal was strong with captain Ryan driving forward from midfield and Busfield thumped a shot onto the bar after a corner was half-cleared.

Undeterred. Ilkley broke through the Tyersal defence again and Mynett found room to shoot from 12 yards when he was tripped by Reynolds and the visitors made no appeals when the referee blew for the expected penalty.

To everyone’s amazement he booked Mynett for diving and awarded a free-kick to Tyersal.

A potential 3-0 half-time lead was taken from Ilkley who then found the referee awarding a penalty against them after Smith’s challenge on Sides who converted, and a 2-1 scoreline kept the visitors in the game.

Both teams competed strongly throughout the second-half with Tyersal beginning to win the midfield battle and Ikley were forced to defend in numbers.

Miles Ratcliffe was outstanding and Dean Henderson made two close range blocks after Tyersal set pieces landed in penalty area As the clock ticked close to 90 minutes, the rearguard action by Ilkley was about to be rewarded when Tyersal’s Beale scrambled a far post equaliser as Busfield’s header looped over Henderson and Ratcliffe.

With minutes to go, Andy Bloom reached to poke the ball away from Beale and, as the players continued to follow the action without any appeal, the referee blew and awarded a penalty to Tyersal and booked Bloom.

The drama continued as Henderson made superb one-handed save to keep the game at 2-2 and take it into extra-time.

A marvellous cup tie was about to descend into near farce, as an off-side was ignored leaving Sides to square the ball to Beal to bustle in a third for Tyersal early in the opening period of extra-time.

Then Bloom made a tired tackle on Ryan that merited a free-kick, only for the referee to brandish a second yellow for the Ilkley defender and reduce the home side to ten men.

This was compounded by Wilson being trodden on in a tackle and left hobbling as a passenger, leaving Ilkley with nine fit players for the remainder of the game as all substitutes had been used. The referee managed to upset the Ilkley Town management by insisting that Wilson was carried off the field for treatment before a proper diagnosis of the injury had been made, citing ‘it wasn’t life threatening and a UEFA directive!’ Goals by Sides (2) and Busfield completed the scoring during the remainder of the extra-time period as Tyersal ran out worthy winners and progressed to the next round.

On Saturday Ilkley Town face another cup tie at home against Bramhope in the Wharfedale and District FA Resource Print Solutions Challenge Cup which kicks-off at 1.30pm.

Players should meet at 12.15pm at Ben Rhydding Sports Club.