Athersley Recreation 2 - 3 Ilkley Town: Auty & Rec denied late in Ilkley defeat.

Charlie Auty saw his equaliser disallowed in added-time and then himself sent-off, Ilkley having scored the winner with four minutes of normal time remaining as Rec were beaten 3-2 in the NCEL Division One on Saturday afternoon.

Words By Ben Swain

Late drama at Sheerien Park began in the eighty-sixth minute with what looked-like a mis-kick to assist Toby Marriott for a simple finish. Auty’s celebrations from a headed-finish were cut short as soon as he spotted the linesman’s flag aloft. The Rec defender was then sent off after a delay, the reason seemingly his protests to the linesman.

Nathan Perks’s second goal in two matches came by way of a chip again to level after Ilkley had turned the score around with two early second-half strikes, Alfie Dean’s direct free-kick following Harry Brown’s goal.

Carter Tingle’s twelfth-minute effort was the difference at the break.

Bailey Wright’s return to the starting line-up was completed after several showings off the bench in recent weeks, joined by Charlie Auty who replaced James Byford from the Horbury trip.

Nothing clear in front of goal in the opening ten minutes replicated the clarity of the sky, with the earlier rain making the surface soft.

The bunched Rec players defending their own box aren’t helped in intercepting passes by the tough surface conditions but Ilkley are contained to shots from distance which end over the bar.

Carter Tingle’s opener itself showed signs of difficulties underfoot already after twelve minutes, nudging into goal at the far post whilst falling.

Ilkley continued to find a route forward, firstly wing-back Jay Harris high and isolated against Rec full-back Billy MacDonald was able to receive and cross the ball the full distance across the face of Levi Owen’s goal.

Then, Harry Brown, slightly further infield, squared the ball to his right to Alex Knox who was free twenty-five yards out but couldn’t get a grip of the ball during the shot, slicing amiss.

Alfie Dean forced Owen into his first save twenty-four minutes in, Rec’s number one reacting with his leg quickly to block after the midfielder had ran free centrally.

Tingle arguably should have had two within the opening half-hour after being one-on-one with Matthew Keen and well clear of the visitors' defence. Tingle chose to shoot low and the 'keeper matched it, blocking with his legs.

Again, it’s Tingle who’s only inches off reaching a ball over Ilkley’s defence, stretching to try and poke to goal. Perks was heavily involved, in the build-up, holding the ball up to win a corner, taking the set-piece and then lofting the ball into the box for Tingle.

Owen’s decisive again for Rec maintaining their lead whilst Alfie Dean was denied again, with the Rec ‘keeper diving to his left and pushing away strongly with just minutes till added-time.

Moorhouse spotted the space to run into for Rec’s wide men before then looking to switch it to Perks who’s lurking on the opposite wing but the ball doesn’t reach the target.

Alex Knox couldn’t get enough power behind his header after Owen’s parry into the air and landing at Knox inside the box.

Dean’s denied again before the break, this time adjudged offside as the ball’s played to him just yards from goal for a tap-in. The score remained one-nil to the Rec at half-time.

A few minutes after the restart and a Durkin shot came back off the bar. He was put through by Perks, took a touch away from the chasing defender but his shot was always rising.

The ball remained in-play and the winger could cut back the ball, mid-flight, for Tingle to volley at goal which Keen parried safe.

Shortly after came Ilkley’s equaliser on fourty-nine minutes, escaping upfield down the right and moving the ball centrally to Harry Brown to finish.

Four minutes later and Ilkley had turned round the score in their favour. Alfie Dean eventually got his goal via a direct free-kick.

One-on-one or not, Perks proved with his equaliser he’s mastered the chip, his second in consecutive Saturdays. Ilkley denied Rec running through one-on-one, clearing only to Perks who pushed the ball out of his feet before raising the ball over several defenders and Keen in goal.

Dean looked for the assist with a following dangerous free-kick for Ilkley, lifting the ball into a lateral run by Manville-Anku inside the box. Under pressure he couldn’t connect cleanly with the shot across goal and Owen shielded the ball wide.

Pursell’s last-ditch tackle into the final ten minutes was crucial in blocking a shot at goal from inside the box as well as starting a Rec counter. Tingle collected a direct ball and lifted the ball over Ilkley’s back line into Perks who could turn but not make anything from the chance.

Four minutes from time came the winner. Toby Marriott appeared fortunate to benefite from what looked like mis-kick to assist his simple tap-in from only yards out, central to goal.

There looked like there was to be a third equaliser of the night when Charlie Auty headed down into ground and through the crowd enough for the ball to cross the line. But as he headed to the corner in celebration, he was met with the view of a raised flag which denied Rec any points.

Rec therefore make the trip to Louth Town next Saturday, 22nd February, following two defeats in harsh circumstances.