North West Counties League First Division North Round-Up
Tom Smith grabbed a hat-trick as Ilkley Town smashed AFC Darwen for six without reply to record their first ever victory as a Non League team.
Ilkley’s opening five games in the North West Counties have all ended in defeat but given the margin of the win, it was certainly worth the wait.
Former Harrogate Railway player Harry Brown set the opener up by gifting James Hughes a simple tap-in.
A Smith penalty then placed Ilkley into a two goal lead before half-time.
Alfie Heaton supplied Smith with his second goal eight minutes into the second half.
Hughes laid off Niccolas Hewitt for the the fourth and Macauley Smith crossed for Kevin Gonzalez to score the fifth.
Smith completed his hat-trick in the latter stages.
Draw specialists Steeton are still searching for their first win of the campaign following the 1-1 stalemate with St Helens Town at Marley.
Roy Mason’s troops fell behind in the fifth minute to Oghenetega Okeregha’s shot which goalkeeper George Bristol got a hand to.
Steeton equalised towards the hour mark.
Jake Townsend’s fine whipped delivery to the back-post was headed by a St Helens defender into his own net.
And that’s how it remained.