Route One Rovers 3 v 4 Ilkley Town

Monday 7th August 2023, Kick-off 20.00

North West Counties League Division One North

Marley Stadium, Keighley

Admission: £5.00

Programme: Online only

Attendance: 205

As I planned a work trip over several days to visit various customers in the north of England, I planned my travels around which games I could watch in the evenings. In between customer visits in Bingham and Newcastle, and with the inevitable shortage of games to choose from on a Monday evening, I chose to spend this evening in Keighley, to take in this local derby, with the home club newly promoted into the National League System, and for what would be my first ever game in the North West Counties League.

The Marley Stadium is about a twenty minute walk from Keighley town centre, adjacent to a dual carriageway leading south westwards away from the town. Route One Rovers share this ground, with fellow North West Counties League Division One North outfit Steeton also playing here, and it is their signage that marks the entrance to the ground from the dual carriageway, outside the entrance payment kiosk, and occasionally inside the ground. Despite being a relatively basic 3G facility, the ground still has plenty of interesting aspects about it. Along the length closest to the entrance, a fairly small “home made” stand covers a few rows of bench seating. Behind this, there is a tea bar hatch in a converted lorry, offering hot and cold refreshments, including chicken biryani, which would have been tempting had I not just had an evening meal on company expenses! And behind the lorry, there is the Steeton clubhouse, which was not open this evening. There is just hard standing along the rest of this length, and along the opposite side, as well as behind one of the goals. Behind the other, there is a converted container unit located either side of the goal, which offers a very slightly elevate view. The backdrop scenery is impressive, with steep hills located close behind both ends, behind one end the hill has a large proportion of housing on it, behind the other the backdrop is much more rural. A very basic online only programme was produced for this fixture.

Route One Rovers earned promotion into this division by winning the Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division last season, and they have made a very solid start to this season, winning their first two league games, 5-2 at home and then 0-3 away, before losing 3-2 away on Saturday. Following a fourth place finish last season, Ilkley have had an even better start to their season, winning two and drawing the other.

A match report from the Ilkley Town website is copied and pasted below :-

LATE GOAL BLITZ SEES ILKLEY WIN

Miraculous comeback from Ilkley Town gives them the win against Route One Rovers

Ilkley pulled off an incredible comeback last night at the Marley Stadium against Route One Rovers as they somehow overturned a 1-3 deficit to eventually win 4-3 in the dying minutes of the game, writes Evan Seaman.

For much of the game, The Baht ‘atters barely threatened in front of goal and failed to have a shot until the second half, however the game suddenly sprung into action for them late in the match.

At the start of the game Route One Rovers took control of the game and gave Ilkley a warning when they nearly went through on goal, but keeper Jordan Moorhouse came out to collect to keep the score goalless for now.

However, Ilkley’s resilience did not last long when Anees Younis sprinted past Nicholas Brayshaw before tucking the ball into the bottom corner to open the scoring for the hosts.

For the rest of the first 45 minutes Ilkley really struggled to keep hold of the ball and looked second best for much of the half, so a half time break to recharge batteries was much needed.

It did not take Sam Dexter’s side long to get back onto level terms in the second half when Takuo Jitsukawa got on the end of a long throw-in before heading it in from close range to make the score 1-1.

But the game took another twist when Route One Rovers grabbed two goals in very quick succession, courtesy of Callan Parker-Wells and Zakariya Khan and the crowd erupted in the Varley Boilers stand.

Until the 85th minute, Ilkley looked like they were heading for their first defeat of the campaign. However, Ilkley’s Nicc Hewitt had other ideas who picked up the ball on the edge of the box after a corner before curling it into the top corner to give them a glimmer of hope.

Then deep into stoppage time, in what can only be described as a bonanza, Nathan Hunt hit a very late brace to give Ilkley a massive three points as they kept their unbeaten streak going for another game.

It certainly took a whole new meaning to the phrase “leaving it late”, but Sam Dexter and his team will definitely take the win and their fightback highlights the character in their squad.

Ilkley Manager Sam Dexter had this to say after the game  “There is certainly never a dull moment with us. Far from our best tonight & work to be done but we must give a lot of credit to Route One Rovers. I am so proud of our players who don’t know when they are beaten & somehow find a way. Thanks to those who supported tonight”

Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

The online programme can be viewed by clicking here