West Riding F.A. County Cup

2nd Round

Tuesday 12th October 2021

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.59

Ilkley Town 1 F.C. Halifax Town 3, attendance 227 (official)

10’ 0-1

36’ 0-2

40’ 0-3 (pen)

87’ 1-3

@ Ben Rhydding Sports Club, 3G Pitch

Coutances Way (A65)

Ben Rhydding

LS29 8AW

£6 Admission

£2 Programme, 16 pages.

The North West Counties League, which Ilkley Town are newly promoted into this season, is sadly becoming synonymous with clubs joining the league who play on these dreadful 3G caged ‘grounds’. In the last few years I have visited such places as St. Helens Town and Lower Breck and as well as Ilkley Town, I also have the delights of South Liverpool and Steeton to look forward to. If that isn’t bad enough, Burscough have also moved to a new 3G ground, although I don’t think that is a caged pitch.

The ground here is awful for Step 6 football. It is only accessible on three sides to spectators, with the far side, where the dugouts are situated, being reserved for club officials. The only cover is for around 25-30 people, unless you are tall enough to see over those stood against the rail, as it is flat standing only. There didn’t even appear to be electricity in the pay hut, as all transactions were carried out under torch light. Not very impressive for a new build.

This is the first game Ilkley Town have played in this competition, as they are now eligible for the Senior Cup, since their elevation to Step 6. They have struggled somewhat at the higher level, currently sitting 16th in Division 1 North. The visitors are the complete opposite. They are riding high in the National League, which is five levels above the hosts, sitting third in the table, just three points behind leaders Grimsby Town.

To say there was a gulf in class is a total understatement. According to Twitter there were 5 first team players named, with the rest being made up of the youth team. Even with this being the case, it was a total mismatch and the first half was as one sided a game as you’re likely to see. It was a surprise that it was only 0-3 at the break, but Halifax had got the game won by then. The second half was all Ilkley, but the visitors had long taken the foot off the pedal by then. Ilkley had a couple of efforts hit the post and at least they got a consolation goal in the dying minutes, a left foot shot through the legs of the ‘keeper as he tried to narrow the angle at his near post.

It was a good crowd tonight and my head count was only two fewer than the official attendance.