Ilkley women hit nine past Brayton Belles

Following on from a crazy second half, Ilkley Town AFC women eventually beat Brayton Belles 9-2, including four goals from Isabelle Armstrong, a hat-trick from Emily Reader-Harris and a wonderful free kick from Taylor Orchard on a humid Sunday afternoon, the writes Evan Seaman.

At the start of the match, Ilkley burst out the blocks and looked very well organized when Isabelle Armstrong got the opening goal.

But they were pegged back immediately following from a mistake from Ilkley’s defence and it fell into Brayton Belles’ path to make it all square again.

Then Reya Wilks made a fantastic save to keep the visitors at bay.

Not long before the break, there was a quick double fire from The Bah’tatters when the ball was fizzed into the box before it was turned into their own net by Brayton Belles.

Then the hosts scored a brilliant goal when the ball was played into the path of Isabelle Armstrong who fired the ball home to double their advantage.

It didn’t take long for Claire Armstrong’s side to score more goals in the second half when Isabelle Armstrong controlled the pass before hitting the bottom corner to make the score 4-1 now.

Not long after the fourth goal, Mary Armstrong made a heroic block to prevent Brayton Belles getting back into the game.

With not long to go in the game, the ball was whipped into the box from a free kick by Reader-Harris before the away side’s keeper spilled it and the ball trickled into the back of the net.

Ilkley were now fully in control of the match and Reader-Harris made it 6-1, but Brayton Belles did score a scrappy consolation goal shortly afterwards which made the scoreline look a bit more respectable.

However, Ilkley were itching to set the record straight and Isabelle Armstrong hit got her fourth of the game from close range to get their seventh goal of the match, before Taylor Orchard hit a fine free kick to make it eight.

There was one final push from Ilkley as Reader-Harris ran past the last defender before tapping the ball home on the stroke of full time to round off the victory and complete her hat trick.