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Ilson
back on track with gutsy win
17th
December 2005 - UniBond League Premier Division
Ilkeston
Town
2
Goddard
51
Jemson
60
Bradford
Park Avenue 0
Att
332
Ilkeston
Town
:-
Scott, Smith, Jervis, Gaunt, Hoyle, Brewer, Clifford, Burns, Goddard,
Jemson (Knowles 88), Townsend, Holmes Sub not used Townsend
and Hodgkinson.
Bradford
Park Avenue :- Parry, Brompton, Newton, Dunne, Siddall, Agus,
Greaves (Calcutt 64), Challender (Hadland 64), Oleksewycz (Flynn
64), Bernard, Walsh
Ilkeston
Town's new Director of Football Bryan Chambers bravely
predicted that if Ilkeston Town went 2-0 today they would not lose.
To try and guarantee this prediction the Robin switched to playing
three at the back drafting in Rick Brewer and using Paul
Smith and David Jervis as wing backs. Manager Nigel
Jemson started up front with Joel Hodgkinson and Gary
Townsend dropping to the bench. The biggest change however was
in goal where Ben Scott was welcomed after a long lay off
through injury.
Ilkeston
made a stuttering start to the game and could easily have gone a
goal down in the first few minutes when Jemson played in Bernard
who crashed his shot against the bar. It continued to be end to end
stuff with Scott making a fine save from Walsh and Jemson
heading just over the bar.
The
visitors however started to get on top and they enjoyed a twenty
minute spell of intense pressure and Scott had to make a
number of key saves to keep Ilkeston in the game.
The
Robins weathered the storm and started to have some chances of their
own as the half drew to a close. The best coming when a Smith
cross was headed into the path of John Burns by Jemson.
Burns' excellent volley was miraculously saved by Parry in
the Avenue goal.
Six
minute after the break Ilkeston got the break their work rate
deserved. Jemson played in Mick Goddard who
confidently rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home. Goddard
almost added to his tally when he shot over after good work by Burns
and Jervis six minutes later.
The
Robins did extend their lead on the hour when Jemson met Jervis'
corner and headed in from six yards out.
Bradford
were not finished however and Scott had to make an excellent
double save from Dunne and then on 72 minutes he denied Bernard
after he had beaten the offside trap.
Jemson
capped a fine performance with a virtuoso effort from twenty five
yards which almost caught out Parry in the visitors goal but the
ball dipped just past the post. There was just enough time for Scott
to make another fine save from Newton leaving Ilkeston joyous and
Bryan Chambers in possession of a 100% prediction record.
WhiteBallProject
Man of The Match - Ben Scott - A
match wining performance in his return eclipsed a fine performance
by manager Jemson.
Ilkeston
Town needed to win this game and although it was not very pretty
they did just that. Many fans noted that the Robins had had more
possession in the last three games than they had today but they lost
all three of those. Today the differences were the return of Ben
Scott which inspired a formerly shaky defence and the fact that for
much of the first half they were under the cosh they kept fighting.
Gritty is a word which aptly describes the display.
It
is probably premature to say that Bryan Chambers has made a
difference but in the second half his instructions from the line
summed up the sort of qualities the Robins needed to win and
ultimately stay in the Premier Division.
On
Tuesday night Ilkeston travel to long Eaton United for what seems
like their annual Derbyshire Senior Cup encounter. Note this game is
a 7.30 kick off.
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