Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Turner

2. Knowles 4. Lever 5. Chettle 3. Jervis

7. Hindley 6. Walshe 11. Smith  8. Eshelby

9. Jenkins 10. Jemson

Subs

14. Copnell for Jenkins 62mins

12. Swinscoe for Chettle 78mins

15. Adam for Jemson 82 mins

Yellow Cards  None

Red Cards None

Debutants Jemson and Adam.

Smith in control	Ilson celebrate the opener	Jemson in flight

Ilkeston Town gave ex Nottingham Forest star Nigel Jemson (pictured left) his debut in place of Chris Freestone and Paul Eshelby kept his place in midfield with Steve Johnson making way. Stockbridge Park Steels included ex Robins Gary Middleton and Andy Kiwomya in their starting line up at the picturesque Bracken Moor Lane ground.

Ilkeston started brightly and pegged Stocksbridge back into their own half. However it was not until the thirteenth minute that they engineered a clear cut chance on goal. The lively Ryan Hindley crossed from the right and Nigel Jemson  controlled the ball at the second attempt and rifled the ball into the roof of the net to give the Robins the lead.

Despite enjoying the bulk of the possession Ilkeston were unable to add to their tally and the Robins were in control of the game. In fact it was not until the thirtieth minute that the home Stocksbridge had their first shot on goal and that was so wide that it went out for a throw in.

A minute later he crowd were treated to a sight Ilkeston fans had became very accustomed to when Andy Kiwomya hobbled off injured. Stocksbridge were however becoming more adventurous and they came close to equalising when Andy Ring got to the byeline and crossed across the face goal of the goal but fortunately for Ilkeston no body was on hand to provide the finishing touch. Either side of this chance Ilkeston came close to scoring. Firstly Paul Eshelby fed Liam Walshe but his shot was well saved by Siddall and then  Nigel Jemson missed a great chance after another excellent Ryan Hindley cross.

Three minutes after the break Stocksbridge equalised when sloppy defending enable Andy Ring to score with a terrific shot from 12 yards out. Ilkeston replied strongly and after 53 minutes David Jervis made an excellent run down the left and fed Paul Smith who missed an excellent chance. Four minutes Jervis repeated his run and again fed Paul Smith and unfortunately Smith again placed the ball wide. The Robins were to regret these missed chances on 59 minutes when Wayne Bullimore scored direct from a free kick as Ilkeston seemed to be still organising their wall and waiting for replacement referee Mr Jagger to give Stocksbridge permission to take the free kick. 

Ilkeston looked for an equaliser but missed another great chance when Paul Eshelby shot wide after being set up by Paul Smith. Stocksbridge almost made it three but David Jervis made a great last ditch clearance. The Robins however continued to press forward and Nigel Jemson came close with a free kick and substitute Stuart Copnell beat the home side’s off side trap but his header was excellently saved by Siddall. After 78 minutes Ilkeston finally got an equaliser when Nigel Jemson cross was turned into his own goal by Dave McNicholas. The Robins looked the most likely team to get a winner in the final minutes and Ryan Hindley came close on a couple of occasions but the game ended all square.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Steve Chettle  – Majestic at the back! Just pipped David Jervis and Paul Smith.

If Ilkeston Town had any doubts about how tough life in the UniBond League Divsion One they were dispelled by a tough and persistent Stocksbridge Parks Steel side. Ilkeston were for much of the game the better particularly for the first thirty minutes and the Robins should have had the game wrapped up before Stocksbridge had their first shot on goal but as Ilkeston's luck in front of goal deserted them Stocksbridge became more and got back into the game. 

In the end a 2-2 draw is not a bad result considering the Robins were 2-1 down with 12 minutes to go but Ilkeston missed so many chances they could have won 6-2. There were excellent performances from Steve Chettle (pictured left) and in the second half David Jervis particularly when he attacked down the left. Paul Smith had a good game despite missing two excellent chances. Ryan Hindley had a very good first half putting some excellent crosses however in the second he looked to score himself rathet than provide chances for the central strikers. Stuart Copnell looked lively when he replaced Justin Jenkins who ran and ran but could not make an impression. Debutant Nigel Jemson showed some nice touches and took his goal well but he looks short of match fitness.

Manager Phil Stant will be looking to tighten up defensively when Ilkeston visit Clitheroe an Saturday and he will no doubt ensuring that the forwards have got their lucky shooting boots on.

Eshelby is fouled	Jenkins is foiled	Jenkins just misses out!