Knaresborough Town return to winning ways with comprehensive West Riding County Cup success over Ilkley Town FC
Knaresborough Town got back to winning ways as they recorded a comprehensive West Riding County Cup victory over Ilkley Town.
Simon Parkes’ men had suffered back-to-back defeats in the NCEL Premier Division heading into Tuesday night’s game, but were not to be denied on this occasion and progressed to the third round of the competition in emphatic fashion.
Lewis Knight saw an early effort deflected wide, before Ilkley pressed hard and Luke Baldwin shot over after good work from Jonas Ndombasi, then Mark Hoban was narrowly off target.
Knaresborough would however take a 16th-minute lead when midfielder Jack Lazenby lobbed a finish over visiting goalkeeper Matthew Keen and found the far corner.
Sam Barker then broke free, only to be denied his first goal for the club by a fine save from the Ilkley custodian.
Slater Barnes then beat Keen to a through-ball and found the net with another lob from wide on the left, making it 2-0 in the 35th minute.
Two goals within five minutes of the second period getting underway then settled matters.
Firstly, Dan Thirkell headed home a Lazenby corner from the right, before he turned provider and set up George Meaking to net his first in Town colours.
Ben Gelder came close to making it 5-0 when he nodded wide of the mark before play switched to the other end and Edd Hall was required to deal with a free-kick from Ilkley’s Joe Snowden.
Lenni Greveson saw a strike saved and Max Barnard hit the cross-bar as the home side continued to turn the screw, though it was not all one-way traffic and Hall was forced into action once more by Baldwin.
A late effort from Barker was kept out by Ilkley’s Keen, but Boro had already done more than enough.
Parkes and his troops return to league action this Saturday when they visit Bottesford for a 3pm kick-off.