Resurgent Ilkley not counting chickens

North West Counties League First Division North 

Ilkley Town manager Sam Dexter

Four wins out of six have propelled Ilkley Town out of the relegation zone and almost into mid-table.

The outlook is much brighter but few points separate teams from 17th to eighth so Sam Dexter says the job is far from finished.

“(The last few weeks have) been good and positive,” Dexter told Non League Yorkshire.

“The Ashton game was probably the spark and that win came at a good time.

“We had lost three on the bounce and we had had a really disappointing defeat to Cleator Moor at the beginning of December.

“The Ashton game has given us a bit of belief more than anything.

“I’m not surprised we have gone on a bit of a run.

“I hope I don’t sound arrogant when I say that.

“The reason why I do say that is because there has been other games earlier in the season when we have lost a win in the last minute or we were due to get a point but have been denied it by last minute goals.

“We knew it was going to turn at some point but there has been no secret to it.

“We have stuck to our guns and our principles and we have managed to turn a little bit of a corner.

“However, it is really important to mention that the table is still unbelievably tight.

“By no stretch of the imagination (the run of wins) have not got us out of (trouble).

“The three wins have eased the pressure in terms of points but we’re not massively away from the bottom three.

“The challenge is can we maintain the form as we enter the business end of the season.

“From the position we were in (in early December), if we were to finish (in the top half) and it is a big if, it would a great achievement.

“We’re two wins away from being well away from the bottom three or two defeats from being sucked right back into it.

“I want to make this clear, we are not counting our chickens by any stretch of the imagination.”

Ilkley Town striker Kevin Gonzalez
Ilkley Town striker Tom Smith

Star striker Kevin Gonzalez has been grabbing the headlines on a regular basis during the brilliant run.

However, Dexter puts the form down to the full squad.

“Bear in mind our back four are all teenagers,” he said.

“Matty Swift has been an absolute colossal as a centre-half and his centre-half partner is George Pearson.

“When we signed him in the summer we expected him to be just playing for our under 23s.

“We saw him as a long-term project as he’s a very talented passer of the ball and he gives us balance across the back four.

“But he got his opportunity at the start of the season because of injuries and covid and he’s never looked back.

“I think he has played almost every game.

“You can throw Kevin Gonzalez in with his goals.

“Tom Smith has chipped in with double figures in goals and again he goes under the radar.

“The captain Harry Brown is immense when it comes to leading on the pitch and the decisions he makes.

“The important thing to mention is that (the form) has been down to the whole squad and I really don’t like singling players out and making players feel they are important than anyone else because it has been a massive collective effort and it is important we emphasis that.”

A home clash with Chadderton awaits tomorrow and Dexter says Ilkley face a tough run of games.

“The teams we have picked up results against have been teams in around and us,” he said.

“Our fixtures coming up are against teams in the top half of the table and we have to make sure we are on it and are challenging ourselves.

“We also have to remain focussed on putting distance between ourselves and the bottom three.”

Former Stockport Town goalkeeper Kai Lord could make his Ilkley debut this weekend.

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