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Watched by a big bank holiday crowd Ilkeston started brightly against a nervous Belper side, Within four minutes Ryan Hindley and David Jervis combined well on the left but Hindley was unable to provide the final touch. Belper soon found their feet and Gummer crossed for Maxwell who luckily for Ilkeston could not connect with the ball.
The home side were still looking a bit shaky at the back and on the half hour Nigel Jemson came close after Wilson in the Belper goal was sold short by a poor back pass. This let off signaled a period of intense Belper pressure in which they should have opened their account if it had not been for the brilliance of Ross Turner. On 36 minutes Gummer was gifted the ball in the centre circle and ran half the length of the field before being foiled by Turner. minutes later Gummer was again the supplier and his cross flashed across the Ilkeston goal with nobody being able to find the final touch. Three minutes before the break Turner rescued Ilkeston again with an excellent double save after gummer had beaten the off side trap. two minutes later Turner was in action again after Gareth Holmes had uncharacteristically given the ball away in midfield. Ilkeston left the field at half time fortunate to be still on equal terms.
After the break Ilkeston regained their composure and started to dominate the game pushing forward with greater confidence. On 51 minutes Hindley fired a thunderous shot which left the keeper standing motionless but hit the post and bounced to safety.
Belper were still threatening but were mainly restricted to shots from distance. Meanwhile Swinscoe came close for Ilkeston after 66 minutes when he got on the end of a Hindley cross but that was the last clear cut chance for the Robins as Belper defended stoutly. As the game seemed to be fading out into a goalless draw Turner had to make anther fine save this time from ex Robin Anton Foster. In the end the honours were even and probably a fair result.
WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Ross Turner (pictured below) – Ilkeston would have gone home pointless without his excellent double save before half time. An excellent performance despite his sometimes heart stopping kicking.
In the second half Ilkeston fought back and dominated the game for long spells but yet again only created two half chances. Ilkeston could have done with a little more help from Lady Luck. had Hindley's excellent drive been an inch to the right we could have been celebrating another three points won whilst not playing well. As it was Ilkeston's attack again lacked punch and never really looked like breaching the Belper defence.
Fortunately for Ilkeston other results have gone kindly for the Robins. North Ferriby United, AFC Telford and Willenhall all dropped points. There is still all to play for but Ilkeston's game away at Willenhall now takes on the appearance of being a key fixture for both teams and Manager Phil Stant will be looking to re-ignite Ilkeston's promotion push by building up the teams confidence and self belief.
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Ilkeston
could have done with three points from this game but in the cold light
of day they were fortunate to get the one. Belper had a spell before
half time where they tore Ilkeston apart and created a number of great
chances and the Robins had Ross Turner to thank for keeping
them in the game.