Pool defeat Ilkley Town in close derby encounter

Pool 2 Ilkley Town 1

POOL snatched victory with two second-half goals on an afternoon when rivals Ilkley were left to rue the chances they squandered in a well-contested Premier Division derby.

The home side went on the attack from the start and dominated the opening ten minutes. Several balls fizzed into the box from out wide, went agonisingly just beyond the boot of the centre forward.

Ilkley soon grew into the match and had their first major chance after 13th minute. Daniel Chadwick’s original shot rebounded off keeper Andy Doey to the feet of Adam Fowler, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.

Ilkley began to dominate possession and went close again on the 36th minute as captain Danny Bott latched on to a through ball which split the Pool defence, his low shot beat the keeper but went just wide of the left post.

Fowler went close again just before half-time, a free header from close range going straight into the hands of the keeper.

After a strong start to the second half Pool took the lead in the 56th minute. Tom Fleming broke through on the right and his low cross was met by Jamie Algar who found the net.

Pool doubled their lead in the 72nd minute, an own goal from Harry Higgins who mistimed his block, wrong-footing Alex Wormall in goal as the ball trickled into the net.

Ilkley received a lifeline in the 80th minute, as substitute Matt Tollefson fired the ball into the top corner from long range. However, time would run out for the visitors, as Pool recorded a 2-1 victory.

Speaking after the match, Ilkley manager Simon Armstrong said: “I thought we played very well in the first half. We had a game plan we stuck to it in the first 45 minutes and created three or four really good opportunities.

"Unfortunately we didn’t take any of them and always when you come to a place like this Pool are capable of hanging in the game and nicking a goal from somewhere. Obviously in the second half they managed to do that.”

Ilkley Town Reserves 3 Hall Green United Reserves 6

ILKLEY had a strong team out which included James Wilson and Tim Edney returning from injury, however they were off the pace from the outset.

Frequent Hall Green counter attacks and set pieces were a constant threat and led to five unanswered goals in the first half. Ilkley regrouped after half-time and quickly scored three goals in reply.

Tim Edney netted with a penalty while Gaz Pickup and Dec Bradley also netted. Ilkley dominated the last half hour but their opponents regained their composure before grabbing a late goal for the game to finish 6-3.

Ilkley remain second from bottom so the hope is through players recovering from injury a more settled side will emerge and enable the results to improve.

Pool A 2 FC Knaresborough 3

DAVE Potts netted both Pool goals as they suffered a narrow Harrogate League Division Two defeat.