Ilkley Town 4, Baildon Trinity Athletic 1

Ilkley Town notched their third straight West Yorkshire League victory, giving them confidence ahead of their visit to table-topping Ventus Yeadon Celtic in a Wharfedale & District FA Cup tie on Saturday.

On a blustery afternoon at Ben Rhydding, Ilkley welcomed a Baildon side who had won two of their previous three.

On the last occasion these two met, Baildon played a 5-4-1 formation and ‘parked the bus’. Fortunately, they were more positive this time, playing 4-4-2.

Ilkley started the brighter, and within 30 seconds Danny Bott found the ball at his feet ten yards from goal with no opponent near him, but he got under it and blazed over.

After this, Baildon looked confident and the opening 15 minutes were frantic from both teams, and it took Adam Turner’s 20th goal of the season in the 16th minute to settle the hosts, the scorer slotting home after a penalty-area scramble.

With the wind behind them, Ilkley started to dominate, moving the ball well and creating opportunities.

In the 36th minute, the ball was fed into Turner, who turned inside his man on the edge of the penalty area, and curled his shot into the top, right-hand corner of the net – a great finish to make it 2-0.

Ilkley had chances to increase the lead from Damian Smith and Ben Greenhow but they were missed.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Baildon started with real purpose and intent.

This added intensity was rewarded in the 52nd minute as they earned a cheap free-kick on the edge of the Ilkley penalty area, which they thumped in off the crossbar. But this was Baildon’s last shot on target during the 90 minutes.

For the next ten minutes, Baildon played with the self belief of a team who might snatch a point.

However, in the 65th minute these hopes were extinguished as man of the match Turner completed his hat-trick, scoring his 22nd goal of the season after making the most of some indecision in the Baildon penalty area.

With the outcome confirmed, it was left to Smith, who is enjoying an outstanding season, to finish the afternoon off with his 11th goal of the season.

Pool 5, Kellingley Welfare 1

Pool were on top for much of the match, but it took them most of the first half to break the deadlock, Grant Bligh heading home from close range.

The Kellingley keeper kept them at bay until early in the second half when Steve Preston doubled Pool’s lead.

Welfare reduced the arrears before Neil Ebdon made it 3-1, Ian Noble and Ebdon completing the scoring.