HONOURS were even last night as Ilkley Town and Steeton played out a 1-1 draw at the MPM Stadium.

A strike from the ever-prolific Tom Smith was cancelled out by Raeece Ellington just before the break, as both sides settled for a point.

The visitors created the first meaningful opportunity of the game but Ilkley’s no1, Jordan Moorhouse, was wise to come and punch away a brilliantly whipped in delivery.

Striker Kevin Gonzalez then went close to breaking the deadlock after attempting an audacious chip from the edge of the area, however his effort just evaded the crossbar.

Ilkley would soon find the net, though, with Smith dispatching clinically from close range on minute 25.

Shortly after his opener, Smith so nearly doubled his scoring tally for the evening.

The inform forward collected the ball before unleashing a fierce strike towards goal, but Steeton’s goalkeeper was a match to his effort.

Just on the stroke of half-time the visitors got their equaliser through Ellington. The midfielder managed to work some space after cutting inside from the left wing where he then whipped a deflected shot towards the far post, which completely wrong-footed Moorhouse.

After the interval, Jake Townsend was involved in both of Steeton’s and the game’s best opportunities.

Moorhouse was on hand to tip a curling effort over the bar from the player aforementioned and in the last seconds of the fixture (90 + 5), Townsend was denied a clear one-on-one after an inch perfect Ilkley challenge prevented him getting the match-winning moment.

For the Bah’tatters, they return to action on Saturday when they travel to Ashton Athletic in the NWCFL, and they currently find themselves in 5th.