Pool 4 Ilkley Town 0

Pool maintained their unbeaten start to the West Yorkshire Division One season with an emphatic performance as they inflicted a first defeat on Ilkley Town on Wednesday night.

Pool were superior all over the pitch. They were first to the ball and playing with pace and quality in the final third throughout the 90 minutes.

Ilkley could have taken an early lead but Pool keeper Michael Tosney pulled off a stunning save from Adam Fowler.

Pool, who had defeated Ilkley in last season's Wharfedale & District FA Cup final, took the lead after ten minutes.

Tom Fleming found space on the right hand side of the penalty area and dribbled round Andy Bloom before crossing for Grant Blight to tap in.

Pool extended their lead after 20 minutes when Fleming poked the ball home  after a scramble in the penalty area.

It was a dire first half performance from Ilkley as they failed to compete anywhere on the pitch and were outworked and outplayed by their opponents.

Ilkley had an opportunity to cut the deficit but Damien Smith just missed the target after finding himself in space in the 18-yard box.

Things got worse for Ilkley in the second half when goalkeeper James Hirst, under pressure, miscued his kick straight a Pool player who slipped the ball to Fleming who netted his second goal.

At this point the game was effectively over, Pool were cruising and it was a matter of how many they would score.

Thankfully for Ilkley, only one more was added to the scoreline as Pool sent a looping free kick to the back post where the ball was headed back across for the simplest of headers into the net by Bligh.

On this evidence Pool look like real championship contenders this season! Ilkley however have a lot of work to do, but fortunately there is a long way to go.