Otley Town 1 Ilkley 1

THIS was a close encounter between Wharfedale rivals in Division One of the West Yorkshire League. A draw was a fair reflection of the game after Otley had made an excellent start only to lose their way in the second-half as Ilkley clawed their way back into contention.

The deceptively bumpy pitch made a high-tempo passing game unlikely and it was Otley who were the fastest out of the blocks, with Boddy featuring strongly on the right wing.

Unable to contain his darting runs, Ilkley struggled to move beyond their half as the home team were quicker to the tackle and contested possession with more determination.

The visitors had to move Adam Davey into a wide position to counteract the threat pose by Boddy and centre-forward Josefek who created difficulties for Andy Bloom and Miles Ratcliffe on Ilkley's left side.

A tactical change was effective but insufficient to stop Otley's momentum and it was no surprise when the home team took the lead after 15 minutes.

Town could have been out of sight given the chances they created but in the end had to be satisfied with a single goal clinically converted by new signing Andy Carlton from a fine low cross by Tom Chadwick.

Having weathered the storm and with only the one goal deficit Ilkley recognised their good fortune, re-grouped and started to get to grips with the situation.

Employing three central mid ield players ensured a decent supply of possession they were unlucky not to score.

Ilkley's defence was under pressure and fortunate not to concede another goal, with desperate tackles by Trimnell and Richardson deflecting shots off target.

As the home-team failed to take advantage of their territorial domination, Ilkley gradually regained their shape, and captain Ian Briggs and fellow midfielder Nick Quaife began to claim more of the ball and instigate counterattacks.

From a sweeping move down the left, Alan Stockdale and Mark Houlston combined for Houlston to race beyond the Otley defence only to see his low shot well saved by Danny Bradley at the expense of a corner.

Minutes later the same Ilkley player did well to beat Bradley to a mis-timed clearance but his toe-poke drifted inches wide of an open goal.

At the other end, Chadwick sliced a shot wide after good work by Josefek and James Wilson cleared his line after Boddy's low shot skimmed across the goal area.

In the next attack, Ilkley should have equalised when Richardson's free-kick caused problems for the Otley defence and Wilson's low drive somehow evaded a crowded penalty area and Houlston's lunge at the far-post.

However, Ilkley remained fortunate that the score was only 1-0 at half-time.

The second-half saw a different Ilkley team who, with the advantage of the breeze, pressed Otley back in the opening skirmishes. With Briggs and Quaife re-gaining possession with snappy tackling in midfield, Ilkley were able to get the ball wide to spring attacks through their full-backs.

After 15 minutes of the half the visitors drew level when full-back Ratcliffe's commitment saw him thread the ball to Davey who outpaced the home defence and squared the ball past the advancing Bradley for Houlston to side-foot the ball into an open goal.

The home team seemed to wilt after such a determined start and it was Ilkley who forced the pace for the next 20 minutes as Davey and Wilson found time and space in wide positions to feed passes into the strikers.

Town looked vulnerable to fast raids and several Ilkley moves created problems for the home defenders but the visitors found it difficult to add to the score.

In the final 15 minutes the teams resembled boxers slugging out the final rounds as players wilted in the warm conditions. Otley forced two corners in quick succession and centre-half North headed wide before Bloom made an excellent interception to thwart Chadwick's through pass.

At the other end, Briggs began and ended a counter-attack but saw his side-footed shot cleared off the line after more good work by Man-of-the Match Houlston.

Both teams should consider this a point gained as they had chances to win a match that saw Otley press forward more frequently but Ilkley have the clearer opportunities to score.

After a mid-week game at home against other local rivals Pool, Ilkley are at home again on Saturday when Barwick are the visitors to West Holmes (kick-off 2.30pm, players meet at the ground at 1.15pm).

Town welcome Andy Carlton back to the club where he played as a junior. In recent years Andy has played at Guiseley, Rawdon and most recently was striker for Bradford-based Tyersal, in the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division.

This Saturday all four of Town's teams are in action for the first time this season.

The first team, again at home, entertain Churwell Lions. Kick- off 2.30pm. Town Reserves travel to Harrogate to play Pannal. Kick-off 3pm. Town's West Yorkshire League Reserve Division side travel to Robin Hood Athletic. Kick-off 2.30pm.

New manager Richard Mowat will oversee Town's fourth team who are at home to Clifford. Kick-off 3pm.