TOM Smith’s hat-trick led Ilkley Town to a 4-1 victory against Horsforth St Margaret’s in a Wharfedale and District FA Cup game at Leeds Trinity University on Saturday.

Ilkley had a shaky start to the game and were 1-0 down after the first few minutes when Horsforth’s Luke Norman capitalised on Darren Munday’s mistake, before blasting the ball past Adam Montague-Millar into the back of the net.

However, the visitors bounced back almost immediately when Harry Brown’s initial blocked shot fell straight into the path of Smith, who only had to tap the ball in from close range to put Simon Armstrong’s side back into the game.

Town almost got their second goal of the game just before half-time when Brown whipped in a good ball from the left flank to Smith, who put it just over the bar.

The away side carried their momentum into the next 45 minutes and Smith made it 2-1 to Ilkley when he calmly put the ball past Sam Whittingham into the bottom right corner.

The game went bad to worse for Horsforth St Margaret’s when Bolton was sent off for the hosts after a bad tackle on James Turland.

Ilkley took full advantage of their extra man and shortly made the score 3-1 when Alfie Heaton played a through ball to Tom Fleming down the middle.

Fleming then managed to dribble his way past Horsforth’s defence before placing the ball past Whittingham.

As the clock ticked down, Smith completed his hat-trick when Brown’s attempt at goal was parried by Whittingham but Ilkley’s poacher capitalised on the rebound, tapping the ball in from a few yards out.

EVAN SEAMAN