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The game started in sensational fashion as Ross Turner had to handle a back pass in the first minute. Danny Hudson took the freekick and slipped it to Anton Foster who cracked his shot against the foot of the post. In the scramble that followed Ilkeston twice at the clear shots off their own line. Belper were on top at this satge and Ilkeston had to wait until the twenty second minute for their first shot on goal when Nigel Jemson had his effort well blocked. As the weather worsened the Robins started to get back into the game and after 40 minutes Mick Goddard saw a 20 yard shot hit the foot of the post and shortly after Paul Smith had a back header which was well saved. After the break the game became very scrappy with both sides finding it very difficult to put flowing moves together because of the driving rain and swirling wind. However Belper were starting to look the most likely team to score until the seventy eigth minute when Ilkeston broke the deadlock. Nigel Jemson gave the Robin’s the lead when he showed tremendous persistence to prod the ball home from eight yards out after he got on the end of a Gareth Holmes free kick. Ilkeston now grew in confidence and within two minutes David Jervis drew an excellent save from Wilson in the Belper goal when he met a Smith cross with a powerful header. After 77 minutes Jemson again chased a lost cause and produced a cross for Holmes to shoot just wide. The game was put beyond doubt with just nine minutes to go when substitute Stuart Copnell (pictured above) collected the ball and ran at the Belper defence and after beating two players for pace he sent a tremendous low drive fizzing into the left hand corner of the goal.
WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Nigel Jemson (pictured below) – Played with the passion and energy of a man half his age. Another tremendous performance
Gareth Holmes had an tremendous first half and looks like an excellent acquisition. Mick Goddard was always a threat upfront but Nigel Jemson was again a revelation his workrate his outstripping some of the younger players and he appears to have gained second wind.
Next Saturday’s game against Kendal Town will another stern test for the Robins. Kendal were too good for Ilkeston when they met at the New Manor Ground but the Robins have added a number of new players since then and will be keen to avenge the home defeat and consolidate their position at the top of the table.
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