Ilkley pushing for the playoffs in the final stage of the season
As Ilkley Town AFC enter the final five games of the season, they will be looking to break into the playoff positions and continue their recent impressive run of form, writes Evan Seaman.
The Baht’atters are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run, winning four and drawing three times. So, the lads will be full of confidence going into the last few fixtures which will undoubtedly drum up more support.
Ilkley’s goals have come thick and fast in recent weeks, scoring 12 in their last six matches and their top goal scorers this season have been Kevin Gonzalez and Nathan Hunt who have picked up 34 goals between them so far.
Gonzalez has also managed to get the most man of the match performances, seven so far, shortly followed by goalkeeper Jordan Moorhouse with six, so Ilkley have good options defensively and offensively.
The highest ranked team they still must play is Cumbrian side Holker Old Boys who sit eighth in the league table, so they will have a long trip on the final day of the campaign.
Sam Dexter’s side also face Steeton, Ashton Athletic, Nelson and Darwen FC, three away and two at home, so will be trying to pick up as many points as possible as most of them are in the bottom half of the table.
Ilkley are currently sixth in the division, one place below and four points off the playoffs, and they have two games in hand over Route One Rovers so they will be hoping to overtake them with any luck.
In terms of their disciplinary record this season, it has been solid as only one player from their side has picked up a red card, Joseph Edmonds, so they will be trying to avoid any blips to give themselves the best opportunity possible of moving further up the table.
If they win all of their remaining games, they will accumulate another 15 points which would move them onto 65 by the end of the season so they could in theory still finish second depending on how other teams above them do.
Ilkley’s remaining 23/24 fixtures:
Saturday 23rd March, Steeton (A)
Saturday 30th March, Ashton Athletic (H)
Monday 1st April, Nelson (A)
Saturday 6th April, Darwen (H)
Saturday 13th April, Holker Old Boys (A)