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Ilkeston started the brighter of the two teams despite not being able to create too many clear cut chances. Mick Goddard had the best shot which was well saved by Steve Hodgson. Stocksbridge has their first real chance on the half hour when Stefan Zoll was put clean through on goal. Luckily for Ilkeston he froze and hit his weak shot straight at RossTurner. From Turner's clearance Goddard got clear of the visitors defence and drove a splendid shot past Hodgson to put Ilkeston one up.
Ilkeston started to threaten the Stocksbridge goal more readily but still found the defensive partnership of Brown and Middleton difficult to break down.
After the break however Stocksbridge looked to be rejuvenated and put Ilkeston under pressure for the first time in the game. The Robins defence were finding it difficult to cope with the visitors tactic of dropping balls over the back four. Ilkeston cause was not helped by some sloppy defending. Nigel Jemson placed a back pass short and Turner was forced to handle the ball and give away a free-kick six yards out. The Robins cleared this effort but were not so lucky on 58 minutes when Ross Hannah latched on to a long ball and cleverly lobbed the ball over the advancing Turner.
Phil Stant introduced Ryan Hindley and Chris Dolby but Ilkeston were still unable to string flowing moves together. It looked as though the game would be peter out as a draw when with two minutes remaining Gareth Holmes played a long precise pas to Stuart Copnell who to took the ball in his stride and fired it past Hodgson to give Ilkeston a win they really did not deserve.
WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Steve Chettle (pictured below) – Another fine performance in a game where there were few Ilkeston stars
Ex Robins Middleton and Brown has inspired games for Stockbridge at the back and when they grew in confident their clever forward play and passes from midfield caused all sorts of problems for the Robins defence. But when all looks lost ( well two points anyway) up pops Stuart Copnell with a dramatic winner.
Not for the first time this season Ilkeston played poorly but won and the irony is that they played much better last week and lost. They say it is the sign of a good team that can play badly and still win. Some fans will be wondering if that is going to be enough to gain automatic promotion. North Ferriby United could only draw at Warrington but both Willenhall and AF Telford won again and are looking very ominous. Next week Ilkeston travel to Ossett Albion in a game they will need to win to keep up the pressure on the other teams near the top. No doubt Phil Stant and Ernie Oliver will be weighing up their tactical options after today's less than satisfactory performance.
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Ilkeston
Town have got to be satisfied with the three points they picked
despite not playing anywhere near their potential. It was a very
disjointed performance where Ilkeston found it difficult to string
passes together and for a good spell in the second half they were
being outplayed.
