West Yorkshire League - Flurry of red cards leads to controversial abandonment

The match descended into controversy when two of Whitkirk’s remaining players went off injured and the referee was forced to end the game abruptly. At that point Ilkley had recovered from a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 thanks to strikes from Harry Brown, George Gomersall and substitute Kevin Gonzalez.

Ilkley struggled during the first half after going two goals down within the opening 25 minutes. The hosts’ physical approach and quick movement from their strikers almost extended their lead as they hit the post and created several other openings, but the visitors managed to hold on to keep themselves in the game.

Towards the end of the first half Ilkley were given a man advantage as Whitkirk’s no 7 was sent off for violent conduct.

After the break, Ilkley began to attack more, with full-backs Joe Garside and Will Giles finding and increasing amount of space down the flanks.

The visitors had a strong appeal for a penalty for handball on Whitkirk’s goal line, but it was turned away by the referee. Still, Ilkley’s pressing seemed to rattle the home side and within minutes Whitkirk were reduced to nine men when their no 10 was given a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Harry Brown. Brown went onto reduce the deficit with a header from close range after some good work on the right-hand side of the box by Tom Smith.

Within two minutes, the visitors drew level, this time through pressure on the left-hand side creating space for George Gomersall to slot home from inside the box.

Things were made even more difficult for the home side when they went down to eight men after their no 11 got sent off for a second bookable offence. Ilkley were now pushing for the all-important goal to give them the three points. It came from substitute Kevin Gonzalez, the no 17, who rifled home from 10 yards to make sure the visitors completed the unlikely comeback. The match, however, then began to break down with injuries to Whitkirk players. And when two limped off injured, the referee blew the final whistle to abandon the game.

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Ten-man Robin Hood Athletic denied Carlton Athletic the chance to close in on the top two in the Premier.

Leaders Field and second-placed Ilkley Town - both on 19 points - were unable to complete scheduled fixtures last Sunday so the door was open for third-placed Carlton.

But goals from Lee Bennett, Matthew Hambleton and Joe Ritson were enough to give Robin Hood a 3-2 victory, achieved without Lewis Richardson who exited proceedings after picking up two yellow cards.

Gibril Bojang struck twice in the first half to give sixth-place Horbury Town a 2-0 lead at half-time at Hall Green United.

But the red-card loss of Lamin Bojang didn’t help their cause and second-half goals for Clifton Firth and Sam Noden secured a share of the spoils for fourth-placed Hall Green.

A Lewis Rees goal secured a 1-1 draw for mid-table Headingley at home to Beeston St Anthony who will see this as two points dropped in their quest to hang on to the pacesetters.

Colin Heath, Philip Milsom and substitute Paul Atkinson struck as second-bottom Knaresborough Town did their situation the power of good with a 3-2 win over visiting low-mid-table neighbours, Boroughbridge.

On Saturday, it’ll be a tough one to call when Beeston St Anthony entertain Carlton Athletic as will Hall Green United’s game with visiting Headingley.

Huddersfield Amateur are scheduled to be back in action at home to Whitkirk Wanderers, while Ilkley Town welcome Horbury Town, Robin Hood Athletic entertain Field, and Boroughbridge travel to Sherburn White Rose.

It’s ‘as you were’ on the Division 1 resumption with all top four teams returning to action with victories.

Lowly Shelley gave leaders Rawdon OB a good run for their money before going down 5-2.

Second-placed Salts were indebted to a goal by Alexander Stewart to see off mid-table hosts Wyke Wanderers, 1-0.

Edward Dry, Craig Heard and substitue Dominic Noteman earned third-placed Aberford Albion a 3-1 win at home to Oxenhope Rec’ who thereby missed a chance to break into the top four.

Fourth-placed Otley Town smashed visiting third-bottom Featherstone Colliery, 5-0.

Elsewhere, East End Park lost ground on mid-table rivals G&C Hartshead after the visitors left with a 5-2 win under their belts and Glasshoughton Rock saw off Pool 2-0.

Next time out, East End Park are scheduled to entertain Oxenhope Recreation, while Featherstone Colliery will be doing their utmost to get something out of the visit of Glasshoughton Rock.

Aberford Albion will be aiming to cash in on their trip to G&C Hartshead with Shelley making the trip to Wyke Wanderers and second-placed Salts set to entertain Pool in the hope stealing a march on the table toppers.

Leaders Rawdon OB - just a point ahead of Salts - entertain fourth-placed Otley Town, who will be more than happy if they can do Salts a ‘favour’.

Only three games survived the scheduled six-game restart in West Yorkshire League Division 2.

Leaders Kellingley Welfare First took advantage of the situation, seeing off third-bottom visitors 2-0 with second-half substitute Elliott Rhodes managing to get his name on the scoresheet. Tingley Athletic FC 1st made their way up the ladder courtesy of a 3-1 home win over mid-table Overthorpe Sports.

The fifth-versus-sixth battle between Brighouse Sports and Old Centralians First ended three apiece with Chris Allan, Billy Farrell and Gareth Bates on target for the hosts.

In Alliance Division 1, Field Reserves hold top spot by virtue of goals difference after netting a 2-0 victory at Oxenhope Recreation while, at the same time, second-placed Robin Hood Athletic Reserves went down 4-3 to visitors Horbury Town.

Hall Green United - in third - won by the same 4-3 scoreline at fifht-placed Beeston St Anthony to go within a point of the top two.

Headingley are level on points with United after their 2-1 success at spirited third-bottom outfit, Hunslet Club.

Bottom club Aberford Albion also put up a fight before going down 3-2 at Salts Reserves, while Huddersfield Amateur - second-bottom but seemingly determined to pull clear - hammered visitors Otley Town 5-1.

A six-game fiture list has been scheduled for this coming Sunday but, as ever, all games are subject to change.

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