Town hit seven on opening day (From Ilkley Gazette)

Town hit seven on opening day

7:00am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Ilkley

Ilkley Town 7 Rothwell Athletic 1

Town got off to a flying start to the new West Yorkshire League Division One season.

On a pitch that is the envy of their rivals, Town settled quicklyand Danny Henderson and Phil Thommesen netted within the first ten minutes.

Both players finished off sweeping moves with well-placed finishes. Henderson added a third goal after 25 minutes before Damian Smith curled a free-kick round the wall to make it 4-0.

Such was Ilkley’s domination that their on-loan goalkeeper Peter Crook from Harrogate Town rarely saw the ball and did not have a shot to save in the first-half.

The visitor’s opened the second-half with more determination, yet every Ilkley attack seemed to prise open the Rothwell defence.

Thommesen hit the bar with a header before Ben Dexter’s fierce cross-shot was tipped-over the bar. A fifth Ilkley goal came on the hour when Tom Rennolds and Ross Hutchison combined to send Hancock through on goal and the full-back lashed the ball high into the net.

Rothwell claimed a consolation goal five minutes later when debutant James Hanna tripped a visiting player in the penalty-area and Crook was beaten from the spot.

This only spurred Ilkley into more urgent attacking and Mark Houlston side-footed the sixth after a fine run and cross by Alan Stockdale.

Skipper Andy Bloom completed the rout when he stooped to head Henderson’s corner into an unguarded net with five minutes remaining.

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