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Dudsey wasn`t too sure where this afternoon would see him end up...Rainworth are at home to Romulus. Sutton Town Afc are in a first v second tussle with Belper United whilst Ilkeston Fc host Ashton United.
No doubt the 'Ilson Faithful' will be definitely hoping for a better show than two weeks ago against Stafford Rangers, so I`ve decided to have a punt on the latter. Not very often you come across a game were both teams have the same nickname..but it 'The Robins' v 'The Robins' today.
There`s a decent crowd again at The New Manor Ground but there doesn`t seem to be much in the way of support for Ashton United lads.
There`s a decent crowd again at The New Manor Ground but there doesn`t seem to be much in the way of support for Ashton United lads.
Teams - Ilkeston; Martin, Cullingworth, Wholey, L Wilson, Maguire, Maduako, Watts, Richards, Ricketts (c), O'Connell, Reid. Subs - Partridge, K Richards, R Wilson, Hooton, Cooke
Ashton - Phillips, Frost, Robinson, Lynch(c) , Caldecott, Kosylo, Baker, Burke, Johnson, Barlow, Burns. Subs Harrop, Moore, Hogan, Sheriff, Amadi
Ilkeston started the game bright enough, Matt Roberts looked far more comfortable in his normal mid-field role, whilst James Cullingworth stoked the engine from right-back, ex Leicester City youngster..Jide Maduako had a bit of shaky start in central defence but eventually settles into his game.
Ashton United were robust in defence, especially their No 3 (Danny Caldecott) who played with real conviction and kept Ilkeston`s skipper Ricketts` very quiet in the first half. Mid-fielder, Stephen Johnson has a nice turn of foot and is making some effective runs down the left in an attempt to feed Ashton`s top scorer..Aaron Burns who has found the back of the net an impressive nineteen times to date.
Wilson`s men are looking to have the upper hand but seem a bit wasteful at times, after winning the ball they`re just hoofing it up the pitch to no-one, Richards looks comfortable on the ball down the left and he serves up a series of decent balls into the area but Kieron O`Connell and Ricketts are having trouble beating a solid Ashton defence but the chances are there.
Ilkeston do like to get forward in numbers, sitting back and waiting to break seems to be the norm for teams visiting the NMG as Stafford did, it`s an effective strategy which rewards the visitors with a quality opener, a quick break see`s a decent cross fall to Burns who takes an excellent touch before volleying it into Martin`s top right-hand corner, 0-1 on twelve minutes against the run of play.
Stunned by the opener, Ilkeston set about their game again and continue to push into the visitors box, James Reid has space to burn out on the right flank but no-one seems bothered as the game seems to be all down the left.
Much to the delight of the 'Ilson Crew' who are out in numbers behind Paul Phillips` goal, a through ball into a busy box strikes the hand of Ashton`s impressive skipper Chris Lynch who doesn`t get the benefit of the doubt from the Ref or the the fans, it`s a straight red to a chorus of "Cheerio" from the crowd, "a bit harsh on the lad for me".
Joe Maguire steps up for the kick and chooses to go "hard and low", ironically enough so does Phillips who collects the ball easily. As if the disappointment of a missed penalty wasn`t enough to digest, the spectacle of watching their team totally lose all momentum for the remainder of the half against a team reduced to ten men must have been a proper head-bender for the 457 strong crowd, 0-1 at ht
Dudsey`s not too sure what`s being dished out in Ilkeston`s changing room at half-time, rest assured it`s not as nice as the Chips, peas and gravy I enjoyed for the princely sum of £1.80p...Quality.
Whatever Kevin Wilson fed the squad in the interval it certainly filled the tanks of the lads in red, within fifty seconds of the restart James Reid had squared the game with a decent shot from about ten yards out, 1-1 and hopefully, game on..!!
The neglect of the space down the right in the first half must have been pointed out in Wilson`s half-time chat, Cullingworth and Reid are ripping up the by-line and Ilkeston seem to have the bit firmly between their teeth, Roberts is dominating the mid-field but seems to be running himself into Cul-de-sacs with nowhere to go.
Expectations of a goal are high for the home supporters and it`s not far away, the only problem being..it`s at the other end again, Ashton are quick to swoop on a wayward pass and Scott Hogan is off deep into Ilkeston`s half with Tom Baker hot on his heels, with three defenders guilty of a spell of ball watching, Baker slips in behind them and slots the ball past Martin, 1-2 with probably their first real break of the half.
Both sides make the necessary changes, the visitors to shut up shop whilst the home-side decide to throw the kitchen sink at it.
The last five minutes is nail biting stuff, Ilkeston are rampant but credit due to Ashton`s ten men who are defending like Trojans, good enough in-fact to see themselves through to the final whistle.
A decent afternoon out at a ground which is fast becoming on of my favourites, good facilities, decent food and a great atmosphere from an appreciative crowd. From a neutrals perspective this was a decent enough game,"not too sure if Kevin Wilson will see it that way though".
My Men of the Match; Ashton - Danny Caldecott (solid as a rock). Ilkeston - James Reid (an excellent second half).
Match Pictures - Click here
Attendance - 457
Admission - £9
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