Ilkley Town held to goalless draw by Hunslet

ILKLEY Town were unable to break the deadlock as they were held to a goalless West Yorkshire League Premier Division draw.

They almost went ahead two minutes as Tim Edney headed wide from a corner, before Lee Spires smashed an effort against the bar.

Hunslet weathered the early storm and almost took the lead through Omri Linfoot, but Joe Garside's blocked his effort on the line.

Town did have the ball in the net after 25 minutes when Toby Harris' low cross was turned in from close range by Spires, but the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Hunslet went close just before half-time when Sydney Santos curled a free-kick into the box and Ashley Westcarr's bullet header hit a post.

Both sides continued to attack after the break with Edney going close again to putting his side ahead, but a wall of Hunslet defenders were able to clear his effort off the line.

Hunslet had a goal disallowed when Westcarr squared to an offside Linfoot who tapped home.

Ilkley missed their biggest chance of the game after 77 minutes when Danny Bott floated the ball to an unmarked Spires who volleyed wide.

A series of opportunities went begging in the closing moments. First, Garside's free-kick found Darren Munday in acres of space six yards out, but he was unable to find the target.

Seconds later, Spires broke down the centre of the pitch before putting a half-volley wide.

As full-time loomed, Spires found himself free again as he drifted behind the Hunslet defence, but as he squared the ball across goal, nobody was there to tap in.