AGAINST high-flying Pilkington FC, Ilkley Town AFC played excellently and were desperately unlucky not to come away with at least a point, in an entertaining spectacle which was a great advert for the league on Tuesday evening.

Kevin Gonzalez gave the Baht’atters the lead at the interval, before three goals from set-pieces gave the visitors a two-goal cushion. Sam Dexter’s side pulled a late goal back to spark a tense finale, but a quality display from the three Pilkington centre backs ensured they left with the three points.

The Baht’atters began brightly - unfazed by the calibre of opposition, and could’ve easily scored within the opening ten minutes. George Gomersall’s delivery was agonisingly close to finding Gonzalez, before Gonzalez himself was through on goal but misplaced a pass intended for Tom Fleming.

Nevertheless, the hosts’ sustained pressure paid dividends around the half hour mark. Alfie Dean was tripped inside the box whilst on a marauding run, allowing Gonzalez to notch his 12th goal of the season with a composed finish that sent Pilkington keeper Jake Hilton the wrong way.

On the stroke of half time, the visitors squandered an opportunity to restore parity. A cross was whipped in towards talisman Callum Laird, but he failed to make connection to guide the ball home.

Not resting on their laurels, the Baht’atters pressed forward in search of securing a two-goal cushion. Within the space of two minutes, both Dean and Gonzalez had efforts denied off the line, Gomersall almost scored directly from a corner, whilst George Pearson came tantalisingly close to doubling the advantage with a drilled effort, forcing Hilton to make a late stop.

Despite Ilkley piling on the pressure, Pilkington withstood and were able to level the scoring in the 55th minute. Town failed to clear their lines from a corner – resulting in a goalmouth scramble – and Scott Sephton volleyed into the top corner.

Only a couple of minutes later, the league leaders had overturned the deficit. Laird found the back of the net from 12 yards, with notably a carbon copy of Gonzalez’s earlier penalty.

Gomersall nearly drew level immediately from a set-piece; his free kick looked destined to arrow into the roof of the net, but Hilton was on hand to parry the ball out for a corner.

At the other end of the MPM Stadium, Pilkington extended their lead as Christopher Lomax nodded home a corner.

Worryingly, Gomersall was forced off injured following a late sliding challenge, with Tom Smith coming on to replace him.

Approaching injury time, the Baht’atters gave the supporters hope of a comeback when Dean’s inviting cross was turned in by a Pilkington player.

Ilkley threw everything they could at Pilkington during the final few moments, and Matt Swift’s goalbound header almost sparked pandemonium at the MPM Stadium, but Hilton denied the hosts again.

This was to be the last action, concluding an enthralling game which was a great advert for the NWCFL, although the Baht’atters will feel hard done by the outcome.

Town are without a game on Saturday 25 February, so the next fixture is away to Garstang FC on Saturday 4 March, before hosting Chadderton the following week.

SATURDAY'S REPORT: BY MATTHEW LAMBE

On a chilly afternoon at Crilly Park, Ilkley Town AFC lost 2-0 to an organised Atherton LR side.

The Baht'atters trailed by two goals at the interval before dominating the second half, but were unable to mount a comeback.

The Baht'atters edged the opening quarter of an hour, with Alfie Dean's marauding runs causing issues for the LR defence. 

However, it was LR who were to take the lead. A through ball reached Chad Whyte, and the Atherton target man found the bottom corner with a low finish. 

For the following 20 minutes, Ilkley and Atherton alike struggled to find an opening as both sets of defenders were able to shut out the opposition forwards. Consequently, the remainder of the first half was played in the middle third, meaning chances were at a premium. 

Nevertheless, Sam Dexter's side created a couple of opportunities on the stroke of half time; Tom Smith was agonisingly close to converting Ben Clarkson's driven cross, whilst Jack Lane fired over after great work from Dean. 

30 seconds before the referee blew for half time, Atherton scored on a counter attack. Danny Warburton scored with a near post strike from close range, giving the hosts a two-goal cushion at the break. 

Only minutes into the second half, the game turned sour as the referee was forced to book the Atherton manager for continuous abuse towards himself and the linesman. 

Both Kevin Gonzalez and Shaban Mehmeti were brought on early into the second half, and both almost made an instant impact. Gonzalez volleyed over from close range, whilst Mehmeti used a burst of pace to beat three defenders with ease. 

Town continued to pepper the hosts' box, but Atherton's defence withheld the pressure to record a clean sheet. On the occasions the defence was beaten, goalkeeper Connor Beard was on hand to save. 

Approaching the final quarter, the game was plagued by several aggressive challenges. Tom Fleming was brought down and looked to be injured following a high tackle. 

Despite Ilkley's dominance of possession during the second half, they were unable to snatch the three points away from the Lancastrian outfit.