Ilkley Town 3 Headingley 2

ILKLEY faced Headingley for the first time this season and beat their in-form opponents by the odd goal in five.

Conditions were perfect at Ben Rhydding and the two teams responded by trying to play a passing game.

The tone was set for in the first ten minutes when both sides opened their accounts. Ilkley struck first after eight minutes when a through ball from Sam Gregory was missed by Danny Bott and left Adam Fowler with only the keeper to beat.

Within two minutes the match was level. Sloppy closing down and failure to track runners saw a scooped pass beat the and offside trap for the Headingley forward to volley past Alex Wormall.

Both teams enjoyed periods of possession which were tempered by spells of sloppy play. Ilkley restored their lead in the 34th minute with a piece of good play.

Danny Bott swung in a sumptuous free kick, which was met by the run of Darren Munday who dispatched a powerfully header into the bottom corner.

Ilkley looked to be taking control in the second half until goalkeeper Wormall blotted his copybook with an error.

Wormall, who had enjoyed a fine game up till the 64th minute, received a back pass and attempted to switch the direction of the play.

The setback added an urgency to Ilkley's play as they looked to put matters right. In the 75th minute they went ahead again. Danny Bott delivered another excellent corner, Fowler challenged the keeper and Connor Greenwood capped his fine performance with the winning goal.

It wasn't a vintage performance,and required real determination and resolve in the closing stages to guarantee the three points.

Ilkley entertain Aberford in their final home game of the season on Saturday (2.30).