Rawdon Old Boys 0-4 Ilkley Town

Town made the short trip to Rawdon this weekend for this seasons second local derby. In the first Town had defeated Rawdon 3-1 at Ben Rhydding.

Rawdon by their own admission came into the game with a strong squad but had to adjust before kick off as their usual goalkeeper slipped a disc and was unable to play. The meant a reshuffle with an outfield player taking number one jersey. He would go on to put in a fine performance in blustery conditions.

The weather and nature of the contest would mean an intense but low quality start to the game as both sides tried to find their stride.

Town began to gain territory and started to create a couple of half chances but didn’t test the Rawdon goalkeeper. Old Boys tried be compact and competitive, carrying a real threat on the break. One such breakaway should have given Rawdon the lead. The ball was turned over centrally and played quickly out to the right winger who went towards goal at pace, cutting inside and then opening his body to place into the bottom corner but it clipped the outside of the post and went wide.

From this point Town dominated and should have taken the lead when Toby Harris was bundled to the floor in the area and a penalty kick awarded. Toby Harris stepped up but was denied by a fine save from Rawdon‘s stand-in goalkeeper.

It didn’t take long for Town to take the lead with the midfield working tirelessly to win the ball Tom Fleming played a lofted pass into the stride of Toby Harris who made contact just before the goalkeeper to guide the ball into the net and give Town the lead at the interval, 0-1.

In the second half Rawdon had a slight wind advantage and the slope which Town had enjoyed in the first half. However it was Town who would start the brighter and Toby Harris had an excellent chance to extend the lead but was once again denied by a wonderful save.

Rawdon now started to push, gaining territory and looking to really threaten, their right winger in particular finding more space and looking increasingly dangerous. It was at this point Town doubled their lead. Richard Bull released Matt Whitehead on the right wing who took on his full back and delivered a cross that would loop, very fortuitously, over the despairing Rawdon goalkeeper and into the corner, 0-2.

This really stifled Rawdon‘s momentum and Town almost grabbed a quick third as Toby Harris rolled his marker in the penalty area and was once again denied by the goalkeeper, Matt Whiteheads follow up effort was then cleared off the line before Joe Hendrie‘s strike cannoned off the crossbar.

At this point Town were winning the ball consistently in the middle of the park. A great tackle from Nicc Hewitt followed by a quick forward pass would release Toby Harris one on one. Harris made no mistake, waiting for the keeper to commit before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, 0-3.

In the closing stages of the game Harris would complete his hat trick and score his 24th goal of the season. Harry Brown won a free kick on the edge of the box and Dan Chadwick would provide a short layoff for Harris to shoot. It was a nice strike but it took a wicked deflection off the Rawdon wall and nestled in the bottom corner, 0-4.

Overall a strong and effective performance from Town to close the gap to the top three.

Manager Simon Armstrong had this to say after the game;

’Credit to Rawdon who had to change goalkeeper and adjust their team prior to kick off. I thought they were incredibly competitive and should have taken the lead which in all honesty would have changed the game. From that point though I thought we were the stronger side, working incredibly hard, being very competitive and very purposeful in possession. Due to the conditions it wasn’t a football spectacle but our performance was very effective and is right up there as one of our best away performances of the season.’

Next week Town return to District Cup action in another local derby as they travel to Otley Town Reserves.

Kick off is 1.30pm at the Old Showground.

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