|
Muller
magic fires up Ilson victory
21st
January 2006 - Unibond League Premier Division
Ilkeston
Town
2
Clifford
69
Carruthers
78
Runcorn
Halton 0
Att
378
Ilkeston
Town
:-
Scott, Ludlam, Jervis (Brewer 27),Gaunt, Hoyle (Hodgkinson 72),
Soar, Clifford, Burns, Carruthers (Goddard 84), Muller, Holmes.
Runcorn
Halton :- Holcroft, Phillips, Jones, O’Driscoll, Locke
(Lamb 78),
Moore
(Bird 69), Martindale, Bowden, Furlong, Hunter, Flood Sub not used
Malloney.
Ilkeston
Town
manager
Nigel Jemson made just one change from the side that recorded the
Robins first away victory in the league last week. David Jervis came
in for the injured Gary Townsend who suffered a serous face injury
against leek Town.
Ilkeston
started confidently and they came close to scoring after only two
minutes when Lee Soar's long throw skidded across the face of the goal
without anyone being able to get the final touch. A
minute later Adam Muller was felled by a heavy challenge in the
box but referee Mr Stretton felt it was a fair challenge. Then Flood
looked to have handled a Muller effort in the box but
unfortunately Mr Stretton was in the minority who saw no
offence.
Runcorn
were however not content to sit back and on 15 minutes Ben Scott
was forced to make a fine save from Locke. Muller was
still causing problems for the visitors and he forced a fine save
from Holcroft after getting on the end of a Mark Clifford
pass. Runcorn came closest to scoring on 37 minutes when Furlong hit
the post from the narrowest of angles and Ilkeston then broke away
and substitute Rick Brewer hit the bar when he got on
the end of a Soar long throw.
After
the break Ilkeston continue to suffer from bad luck in front of goal
when Brewer's excellent header was cleared off the line. The
ball rebounded to Muller whose header was was well saved by
Holcroft. Clifford came close after good work by Muller
and Ryan Ludlam and then Martin Carruthers headed just
wide from a Ludlam cross. Ilkeston's luck changed after 69
minutes when Clifford found Muller on the left and his clever
cross was coolly slotted home by Clifford himself after he
had raced into the box for the return.
Ilkeston
then consolidated their lead when a clearance found Muller
who outpaced the Runcorn defence and lobbed the keeper only to see
the ball hit the post. Fortunately for the Robins Carruthers
was alert and followed up to tap in the rebound.
Runcorn
fought hard to get back into the game but were thwarted by a
resolute Ilkeston defence although Martindale and Hunter forced Scott
onto making a two good saves to maintain the Robins two goal advantage.
WhiteBallProject
Man of the Match – Adam Muller
– Three games and three Man of the Match awards speaks for
itself. A class act and a constant threat to Runcorn.
Three
wins on the trot for the first time this season and eleven goals
into the bargain make this a dramatic upturn for the Robins who were
facing a bleak fight against relegation after the depressing defeat
at home to Lincoln United a few weeks ago.
The
new players have made a dramatic difference. Adam Muller is
class and Ilkeston should break the bank to try and make his stay at
the New Manor Ground more permanent. Martin Carruthers is
showing his experience by holding the ball up and winning the flick
ons but most of all his two goals have been typical strikers goals.
Both times he has reacted quickest to a ball hitting the woodwork
and has therefore been in the right place at the right time. Lee
Soar looks solid at the back and is a threat with his long
throws. The improved performance has rubbed of on the rest of the
squad with Ryan Ludlam doing well down the right and Ricky
Brewer showing up well when he came on down the left. Mark
Clifford had a terrific second half especially when he was
pushing forward.
There
is still a few problems in midfield with too few tackles being won
and often too much space for the opposition but the team looks like
it is on the right track and now hopes are high that Ilkeston may
after all not be fighting relegation when the final games of the
season arrive.
|
