REPORT BY: EVAN SEAMAN

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, goals from Alfie Dean and Matthew Swift gave Ilkley the three points and a 2-1 victory which keeps their fantastic run of form going.

Sam Dexter’s side started brightly and were dominant in possession, which put them in a strong position for the rest of the match.

Then just before the half an hour mark, attacking midfielder Dean scored a stunning free kick after his curling effort rifled into the top left corner to break the deadlock.

However, some sloppy defending by the Baht ’tatters shortly afterwards allowed Ashton Athletic to counter-attack and Reece Carrington scored a long-range effort to put the visitors back in with a shout just in time for half time.

There was a chance for Ilkley just before the break though when skipper Harry Brown’s shot rattled the crossbar but unfortunately for him his effort went over the bar.

The second half began slowly as the game was stuck in the middle of the pitch but then Ilkley gradually improved as it went on, which made it tense for the supporters watching on.

Then with not long left on the clock, big centre-half Swift got on the end of a whipped cross and his powerful header hit the back of the net to put them in the lead late in the day.

This result means Ilkley have leapfrogged Route One Rovers into the playoff places which will surely be a confidence booster as they head into the final few games of the campaign.

Whereas for Ashton Athletic, they are stuck in mid-table mediocrity, so they have little to play for despite being in good form themselves before this weekend.

Next up for Ilkley is a home contest with Darwen on Saturday afternoon (3:00 pm) after they saw their Easter Monday trip to cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.