Frantic first half as Ilkley lose to Leeds UFCA
Ilkley Town 1 Leeds UFCA 4
A disappointing night at the MPM stadium where Ilkley were beaten 4-1 by Leeds UFCA with some wonderful strikes along the way.
It was two goals in the opening 20 mins that really set Ilkley on route to defeat, including one wonderfully struck effort from Omar Sanyang as he cut in from the left side and curled ball beyond the fingertips of Matthew Keen and into the top corner.
Earlier, William Horkin opened the scoring for Leeds UFCA - after a free kick couldn’t be cleared, the ball fell to Horkin who diverted it into the top corner brilliantly.
Ilkley responded well to the two goals as striker Luke Baldwin scored with another brilliant effort, striking the ball into the top corner from what was a tight angle to give Ilkley a lifeline.
The last 25 minutes of the first half were Ilkley’s best passage of the game as they began to show some fight with midfielder Callan Parker-Wells really getting stuck in as the game began to open.
It really should’ve been 2-2 when a corner from the training ground missed to the frustration of manager Jacob Mistry on the sidelines.
Ilkley did not take their opportunities and were punished for it as they lost the ball trying to play out from the back and Leeds UFCA replied with an edge of the box strike from Omar Sangyang, who proved difficult to handle all the first half.
Leeds UFCA took control in the second half adding a fourth goal by Toby Stennett to really kill the game off.
A frustrating evening overall for Mistry’s side on a cold windy night in West Yorkshire. This result keeps Ilkley 16th in the table but with games still to be played from the sides below.
The Baht’atters will hope for a response on the road as they travel to Nostel Miners Welfare this Saturday.
Report by Harry Thorne