Ilkley AFC 1 Pool AFC 5

Pool bounced back to form in the third round of the League Cup beating local rivals Ilkley to gain a place in the semi-finals against Fields FC.

After two consecutive defeats in the league - a first this season - Pool manager Dennison was using this opportunity as a much needed confidence booster. Facing an Ilkley side flying high along with Pool in the league could not be taken too easy especially with late withdrawals from the squad of Rake and Dennison with flu.

The end of the cup campaign for Ilkley players who failed to recover from a dreadful start to the game, and appeared overawed by the visit of league-leaders Pool. Being without five regular first-team players did not help Ilkley's plight but it gave Ben Convey, Liam Blenkhorn, Danny Henderson and Chris Mynett the opportunity to sample higher level football.

The game also gave Ilkley goalkeeper Ben Wilkinson the opportunity to show his prowess before he travels to Los Angeles next week for a trial with the LA Galaxy of the Major Soccer League. Perhaps affected by a combination of excitement and nerves, this was not a game Ben will wish to remember.

His teammates wish him and brother Tom the best of luck on their trip to the USA.

The game could not have got off to a better start for Pool with Michael Jordan meeting a Paul Newsome free-kick within five minutes.

Pool dominated with long throws by Graham and a series of corners causing problems for the home team as centre-backs Andy Bloom and Matt Trimnell struggled to contain the movement of Joyce and Wagstaffe.

Pool doubled the lead soon after with Shaun Joyce scoring direct from a corner but the positive start was eroded by an injury to White who was replaced by Dunning.

At this stage, Ilkley had been unable to gain or maintain possession with any consistency as Jim Hannaford and Martin Taylor struggled in midfield and Mark Houlston and Alan Stockdale failed to create any difficulties for the Pool defenders.

Then a lifeline appeared for Ilkley when Bloom headed yet another Pool corner clear of the area and Hannaford threaded the ball to Damian Smith on the half-way line. The Ilkley player tricked his way beyond Graham and curled a pass beyond the leaden-footed Pool back three for Hannaford to prod the ball past keeper Ed Neale from ten yards.

A classic breakaway goal and one that revealed the limitations of the Pool defence, albeit against the run-of-play.

A reaction was needed and received as Jordan got his second after good play throughout the team. It was 3-1 to Pool at half-time and confidence within the Pool team was now beginning to re-emerge after recent lapses in the previous weeks.

Jordan secured his hat-trick in his first full game back after travelling the world. A game of ping-pong in the Ilkley box with keeper Wilkinson slipping resulted in Jordan heading in his third goal.

Pool started to play with the class that had been missing since Christmas with both Clarke and Newsome driving the game forward. The back line of Neale, Graham, Graham and Thompson were rarely called into action.

This allowed the defenders to give a master class to the strikers in the art of finishing. Rob Graham ventured into the opposition penalty area and bravely put his head in to finish a Newsome corner.

This was a marked improvement by Pool. The distraction of the cup has hopefully been positive as the quest for promotion continues next week.

Ilkley were frequently second-best in challenges. The one exception was Miles Ratcliffe who has made significant progress this season and was clearly the Ilkley Man-of-the-Match, putting many of his colleagues to shame with his endeavours.

It was a salutary lesson for Ilkley's players, several of whom were anonymous in a game that required team commitment and determination. On Saturday, Ilkley return to league action against Robin Hood (KO 2.15pm) and need to re-capture the form that has seen them move to third-place in the division and only five points behind Pool. Players should meet at the swimming-pool at 12.15pm.

Meanwhile the Ilkley Reserve team also resume league action with a home game against Woodhouse at Ilkley GS fields. Players meet at the ground at 1pm.