Ilkeston Line up:-

Manager Charlie Bishop introduced three debutant as Ilkeston travelled to strugglers Yate Town. Mark Hurst and Andy Jones have both joined on loan from Mansfield Town. Chris Shaw has been signed Hucknall Town and has recently had a loan spell at Arnold Town. Paul Reece replaced the departed Andy Love and Kristian Stephens moved to full back. Marc Laws returned from suspension and Aaron O'Connor and Mark Nangle led the line up front with top scorers Chris Freestone and Chris Thompson both injured.

With Yate only averaging a goal a game and the Robins not having scored for two games chances were that this game would not overflow with goals and that's exactly what happened. Both sides had few chances but Ilkeston Town had the best of those when Mark Nangle had a header well saved and Aaron O'Connor hit a post when it looked easier to score.

Ilkeston could have expected to have broke the deadlock when Yate keeper Tony Court was sent off for a foul on Aaron O'Connor in the 48th minute. Substitute Nicky Brooks took over in goal but Ilkeston were unable to test the new keeper and had to be content with a share of the points.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Danny Holyoak - Strong at the back and helped steady a defence that has been shipping goals in recent weeks

In the end a point gained after a run of four defeats has to be a good outcome. A few weeks back when we beat league leaders Sutton Coldfield Town the club would have expected three points from games against teams like Yate. However things have changed since then and the priority is now to halt the dip in form since the Sutton game. Manager Charlie Bishop has moved quickly to turn things round by signing Chris Shaw who looked a useful addition on his debut and loan youngsters from Mansfield Town Andy Jones and Mark Hurst. It will take a few games for the new arrivals to gel and hopefully the Robins can stay in touch with the leaders. There is also a strong rumour that the club is after a keeper from Eastwood Town now that Andy Love has left the club. Many fans thought that Andy was harshly treated when he was substituted against Rugby United and obviously he feels pretty much the same but his departure does free up some more money for wages as he was one of the top earners at the club.

Strangely enough the player now with the most appearances who is registered as a player with the club is the manager Charlie Bishop followed by Joe Atkinson and Chris Freestone and all three were not playing against Yate Town.