KELLY'S A HERO AS ILSON GO GOAL CRAZY

28th September 2002

Ilkeston Town 7 Atherstone United 0  Att 435 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

Ilkeston line up:- 

Before today's game Ilkeston Town had scored only six goals in eleven games by 4.45pm they had more than doubled that tally with a devastating display of attacking football. Atherstone came to the New Manor Ground with an unbeaten record stretching back seven games and a FA Cup upset would not have been beyond the realms of possibility. John McGinlay had other ideas and Ilkeston started the game with an attacking 3-4-3 formation with Paul Kiely, Ryan Ford and Simon Coleman returning to the fold. The Robins pressed forward from the start and got the break they needed when referee Naylor adjudged that Leon Kelly had been fouled in the area. This seemed a very harsh decision but the ex Atherstone striker Leon Kelly stepped up to covert the spot kick. The Adders were obviously rattled and on twenty one minutes Richard Mitchell played Leon Kelly through for his second goal. Ilkeston then got their second penalty of the game when Paul Kiely was scythed down after taking on the whole Atherstone defence. Leon Kelly gratefully accepted the opportunity to to complete his hat trick. This appeared to be a clear cut penalty but the Adders bench and officials were very upset and vented their anger on the linesman. Eventually the Atherstone manager was ordered from the dug out and sent off.

Ilkeston continued the second half has they had started the first and after an excellent flick by Paul Kiely Emeka Nwadike scored a well taken goal. Atherstone's lack of discipline was highlighted in the forty eighth minute when Danny Martin was sent off for swearing at the referee. The Robins continued to create good chances and after sixty five minutes Paul Kiely's cross was hooked back by Emeka Nwadike for Richard Mitchell to score his first goal for Ilkeston Town. Ten minutes later a now rampant Robins added a sixth when Paul Kiely controlled a long ball and with his back to goal lobbed the defence and keeper to score another very special goal. With nine minutes remaining Leon Kelly prodded home the team's seventh goal and his fourth to complete the rout.

Whatever way you look at this win it was an excellent result. For the first time this season the players were confident enough to show what they could do. Simon Coleman, Paul Kiely, Ian Robinson and Emeka Nwadike were all outstanding but the WhiteBallProject Man of the Match has to go to Leon Kelly whose four goal haul was richly deserved.

Manager John McGinlay will now be expecting the players to build on what they achieved today and translate that in to league points starting with the visit of fellow strugglers Folkestone Invicta next week. Before the game some fans were asking whether the management would survive if the Robins lost today's game. At the end of the game although a little shell shocked by the turn round in the teams fortunes there was little talk of crisis and rightly so.

Finally I would like to thank Dale Belford in the Atherstone goal for entertaining us so richly and reminding us all that after all it is only a game and one that should be enjoyed. For Dale's sake I hope the Atherstone officials shared his lighthearted approach to proceedings on the coach home.

NURSE IMPRESSES BUT ILSON'S SYMPTOMS THE SAME

21st September 2002

Welling United 2 Ilkeston Town 0  Att 520 Dr Martens League

Ilkeston line up:- 

Ilkeston had three players making their full debuts for the visit to Welling United. Matt Nurse who has been on the books of Leicester City and Sheffield United joined the Robins from Cambridge City for a small fee and Richard Mitchell who numbers Stafford Rangers, Northwich Victoria and Kidsgrove Athletic amongst his former clubs joined from Hinckley United. Tony Brown started at left back after impressing when introduced as a substitute on Tuesday night against Cambridge City.

Looking to halt the miserable run of results the Robins appeared to be turning the corner. Keeper Matt Nurse was having a fine game and Ilkeston could have even taken the lead just before half time when Scott Dundas missed a good chance. Although Welling had the edge over Ilkeston a point looked a real possibility until the seventy ninth minute when a long hopeful ball hit a post and rebounded back into the goal area. In the ensuing melee an alert Welling player hooked the ball into the net. Five minutes into injury Ilkeston were caught out when Matt Nurse made another excellent save but the ball fell kindly for Welling and they recorded their second goal.

On the positive side Matt Nurse played well and could be an excellent signing and Tony Brown had a very good game. Ilkeston Town's best player however was Emeka  Nwadike who therefore becomes WhiteBallProject's Man of the Match.

Overall this was a much better performance than against Cambridge City but unfortunately the scoreline remain the same. And this is the depressing statistic because no matter the performance Ilkeston can't seem to get the break they need to halt their decline. Ilkeston are now adrift at the bottom by three points and they need not one win but a consistent run of form to give themselves a chance of lifting themselves off the bottom.

John McGinlay has a chance next week to relieve some of the pressure by picking a team that can defeat in form Atherstone United and progress to the next round of the FA Cup.

David Holmes has joined Worcester City for a £4,000 fee and all at the WhiteBallProject wish him the best in the future.

ILSON MISERY CONTINUES AS INJURY CRISIS WORSENS

17th September 2002

Ilkeston Town 0  Cambridge City 2 Att 523 Dr Martens League

Ilkeston line up:- 

John McGinlay must be starting to wonder what he has to do to get a break this season. With numerous players out injured and Carl Wright stranded with a broken somewhere between the New Manor Ground and Ipswich the omens were not good. Anton Foster replaced the injured David Holmes and Scott Dundas moved upfront to replace another injury victim Paul Kiely. Emeka Nwadike returned after suspension but the depleted nature of the squad was reflected in the line up on the bench with Tony Brown and Aaron O'Connor being promoted from the successful reserve set up.

Cambridge City started brightly despite their lowly league position and Samu Harmainen made a fine save after a Cambridge City had beat the off side trap and raced through clear on goal. Ilkeston defence only held out until the12th minute when Tim Wooding corner was headed home unchallenged from close range by Kevin Wilkin. Anton Foster had a chance minutes later but Ilkeston struggled to get back into the game and went in at the break lucky not to be at least three goals in arrears as Cambridge squandered two golden opportunities.

Straight after the break things got worse when Cambridge scored what looked like a very soft goal before most had either left the bar or resumed their seats after the interval. Manager John McGinlay bought himself on and Ilkeston for the first time started to put pressure on the Cambridge City defence gaining a number of corners and free kicks around the box. Unfortunately any chances that had were scrambled efforts or half chances. The best chance fell to Scott Dundas who fired just wide in the dying minutes.

This was a desparate performance from a team sadly lacking in confidence playing against another poor side. Many players worked hard but only Barry Woolley did himself justice and therefore is WhiteBallProject's Man of the Match. Ironically the two reserves Tony Brown and Aaron O'Connor both made useful debuts.

Where Ilkeston Town Football Club go from here is anybody's guess. Points are needed urgently and maybe when the injured players return the Robins fortunes might improve. There are many amongst the Ilkeston supporters who are becoming increasingly frustrated at the sides poor start to the season and are looking for people to blame.

Hopefully a good FA Cup might sooth the worried brow although three points away at Welling would be much more welcome!

DEFENSIVE LAPSE COSTS ILSON DEAR YET AGAIN!

14th September 2002

Chippenham Town 3 Ilkeston Town 0  Att 645 Dr Martens League

Ilkeston line up:- 

John McGinlay kept an unchanged for the trip to Dr Marten's League Premier Division newcomers Chippenham Town and his faith seemed to have paid off as Ilkeston opened brightly and had the better of the early exchanges. For 29 minutes it looked like Ilkeston had turned the corner and where on the verge of registering their first away victory. However it was Chippenham who opened the scoring when Barry Woolley and Samu Harmainen failed to communicate allowing the home team to score a very soft goal. A deflated Robins briefly rallied but their fate was sealed when Chippenham added a second on 65 minutes when the home team scored unchallenged from a corner. In the dying minutes Chippenham added a third making it a miserable trip for John McGinlay's men. Added to his worries the squad picked up another catalogue of niggling injuries with Paul Kiely being the most ominous. Few players managed to cover themselves in glory but Joe Atkinson added to his growing reputation and is therefore WhiteBallProject's Man of the Match. The Robins also added to their international brigade by adding German keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel to the bench.

So it is back to the bottom of the Premier Division with the game against Cambridge City to look forward to. Three points is a must from this fixture so that Ilkeston can prepare for their FA Cup home game Atherstone United on 28th September in a more positive frame of mind.