Ilkley Town 2-4 Carlton Athletic
West Yorkshire Premier League
Saturday 19th May 2018
The town centre is portrayed by Victorian architecture and its spa town heritage makes it a popular tourist destination next to the dales. Ilkley Moor is the subject of a folk song, which is often described as “The unofficial anthem of Yorkshire” - "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at" is written and sung in Yorkshire twang, its title translated as "On Ilkley Moor without a hat."
West Yorkshire League Division Two runner-up in 2004-05
Promoted from Division One to Premier Division for 2015-16 season
Ben Rhydding Sports Club
Leeds Road
Ilkley
West Yorkshire
LS29 8AW
The complex was a hive of activity with a cricket match in full swing and a ladies hockey match taking place. The football ground is sandwiched in between, being fully railed with a pair of dugouts down one side. The clubhouse was build in 2001 and has generous space for a large function room with a bar, large TV screen and a substantial selection of hot drinks and snacks. There is also six changing rooms in the building, but the football teams used the facilities on the far side of the hockey pitch.
West Yorkshire Association Football League - Premier Division
Matchday 30v27
2.30pm ko
Att.70est
Carlton Athletic need to win just one of their remaining two away fixtures to clinch the Premier Division title. They fell behind to an early goal when an Archer cross picked out Jordan Boxhall-James in the third minute, but drew level when a left wing free kick picked out Liam Moore at the far post to nod home.
Just before the half hour mark the visitors were reduced to ten men after an unnecessary two footed lunge by Reece Fenel. The red card seemed to spur Carlton on as they scored two more before the break, with Scott Hargreaves lobbing the ‘keeper followed by Moore being on hand for a tap in, after the initial Hargreaves shot was saved.
Straight from the restart Ilkley were back in it, when a fine solo run from Tom Archer was finished off by a rasping left foot drive. The match was nicely poised with both teams creating plenty of chances, with Harry Higgins making some great saves in the Ilkley goal. With time running out the match was finally settled when a shot by Younis was helped on its way by the substitute #17 to make it 4-2 to the champions elect.
ITFC 2(Boxhall-James 3 Archer 47)
CAFC 4( Moore 21,44 Hargreaves 34 #17 81)
Entertainment 9/10
Top Bloke - Anees Younis(Carlton Athletic)
Admission & programme:none
Coffee £1
Tea £1
88 miles door-to-door via A1/A61/A59
The mission to escape the royal wedding was a drive down to west Yorkshire after work, for my last match of the season. I picked up Lee & Katie on the way, arriving in Ilkley just before 2pm, which gave me a bit spare time to nip into the local JDW for another pub tick. We met up with ‘ull ‘oppers Dave and Phil at the ground and the five of us enjoyed a smashing game in glorious sunshine.