The game began with the Ilkley Army on it, they swarmed forth like shit hunting Dung Flies, in search of the cow pats of success. The home No 2 (Alfie Heaton) traveled down the wing, the cross had pace, the defensive header that came saw the ball touched onto the bar, the close-in follow up header produce a top-notch save, what a start this was! Ilkley came again, a corner was earned and delivered with exposed quality, the Newsome boys did well to escape. No 11 (Harry Brown) dashed next, the ball was played to No 10 (Tom Fleming) who shot with untamed keenness and sent the ball over the horizontal. Eventually the visitors marauded, No 3 (Darius Mattheson) flew the flank, the ball in was decent enough but the Ilky men stayed organised.
The next action soon followed, the resident No 9 (Tom Smith) played the ball out wide, a cross was hammered in, No 7 (Joe Hendrie) was the assassin who tapped home - it had been coming. No sooner had the celebrations died down then Newsome sprang a reaction, No 11 (Luke Gibson) went on a stunning surge, the ball was touched out wide, the defending however was textbook.
Eventually Newsome put together a few more moves that held significant threat but the hosts were in a groove and duly broke again via Heaton who produced another gallop and cross that led to a close in shot. This time the keeper dived, held and released. Newsome attacked, Gibson received and shot from the angle, sadly it was the outside of the netting that bulged inwards. More attempts at goal came in this all-action affair, No 3 (Joe Garside) for the Town had 2 pops, one way over, the other saved, No 9 (Dean Siddiq) had a crack at the opposite end of the park, the outcome was wide of the mark.
From here the next goal was difficult to call, and then the home team progressed, Brown sent in a steamer, the mittman dove and spilled with the loose globe pounced upon by Smith who duly accepted the gift and buried. From here the home side found the net again but a flag killed the celebrations and Siddiq at the other end should really have pulled one back but didn't even test the keeper. The final attempt on goal of this thrilling first half came from Newsome's Gibson, it was a low piledriver, it was mere inches off target - half done.
For the quick break I dashed for a piddle, it was a mighty difficult task getting my cold-avoiding todge from the beneath the thermalized layers but out it was forced, I expelled the last bit of bodily warmth before dashing back to join my good lady and share a choccy bar (it must be noted that I did tuck in and zip up before leaving the bogs and I did wash my hands before handling the chocolate).
The second half began, Newsome had 2 quick corners, the outcome was far from troubling for the leading squad. The visitors were now playing like a team renewed, No 8 (Coron Rowe) put in a sweet cross that was cut out at the last and then a corner came after a lunged tackle was ignored, Ilkley now had their backs against the wall. Once again the guests trespassed, Rowe played a ball to No 9 Siddiq, the keeper was back-tracking, a clumsy collision came, the penalty spot was appropriately pointed to. Up stepped No 7 (Lee Bradshaw) to take the kick, the delivery had solid impetus, the gloved guardian was very unfortunate not to save it.
This revitalised burst for Newsome continued, a free-kick went long, No 6 (Carl Sykes) was on it, lashed in a cross that found the cranium of No 5 (Steven Marshall) close in. This time the mitter was not unlucky, in fact he had no chance of making a save - the equaliser had been grabbed, this had been a real turnaround.
The guests continued to make all the running but when their No 10 (Brighton Mugadza) was sent to the sin-bin the impetus was deflated quicker than a testosterone fuelled ball sac in a Swedish sperm bank (those magazines certainly do the trick). The Ilk-Men were now in with a chance to get their noses back in front, they took it with Brown and Heaton linking up, a cross hammered in that the keeper failed to hold. Up popped No 10 (Tom Fleming), 3 - 2 - this was a decent game to say the least and still on a precipice.
Now waves of Ilky pressure came, shots were had from all angles and were scrambled clear via some rather last ditch defending. Garside sent in a cross that dripped with goodness, Smith arrived at the last minute - over the crossbar the ball went. Brown sent in a sizzler next, the keeper kept his eyes on the sphere and saved low to his left and then moments later Brown was at the end of a move he started. He found himself in possession mere feet away from the strike zone, the touch was a shocker, the framework was left unmolested - how the Hell did he miss that? Eventually Newsome won a corner but all it led to was a swift breakway, thankfully Matthesons long shanks were stretched and did their job, that could have been the killer moment. One last flurry was had, No 8 (James Nightingale) for the hosts played one to Brown, surely this was the icing on the cake. The globe was launched, the keeper blocked once more and after another Newsome sin-binning we were done. This had been a fine encounter, many players had put in a decent spell of soccerised attention but the Man of the Match for me goes to Ilkley Town's No 6 (Darren Munday) who was disciplined, effective and strong whenever the moment needed him to be. The focus throughout and the calm authorative manner will help keep his team honest and competitive - keep on lad, the season is still young, when the balls drop there will be much work to do.
Cold but pleased with the action we headed home. The call in at the chippy was a bonus, this had been a decent day out.
FINAL THOUGHT - Well now that was interesting to say the least. A foray into the West Yorkshire Association League and a good competitive match seen. The guests Newsome FC must be congratulated on taking a first half hammering on the chin, dusting themselves down and coming out to get this match back to an all-square situation. They battled well, obviously took their half-time team talk to heart and played some decent forceful football to put the outcome of the game temporarily up in the air. The only thing they need do in future is not get on each others cases (and tits) and let the ball do the talking. Positivity needs to be maintained and encouragement the key of all conversation, it will help the team to win more than they lose. Ilkley Town impressed me during the first half and the swift attacking play, willingness to run in all areas and the heads down approach must surely keep them in the reckoning come the season end. The league leaders may have a slight cushion, I suggest they don't get too comfy, Ilkley are not the finished product but play with a style to make them a real dangerous adversary for any team. Today they could have had a bagful, maybe the shooting boots need a little more polish and sharpening, I do hope I can fit another viewing in of these guys before season end - tis all time, time, time.
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