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EARLY BLUNDERS COST ILSON DEAR

7th October  2003  Dr Martens League Western Division

 

Bromsgrove Rovers 3 Ilkeston Town 0 Att 356

Jackson 3

Frost 11, 21

 

 

Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Love

2. Simms 5. Lever 6. Holyoak 3. Atkinson

11. Thompson 4. Coates 8. Cooke 10. Smith

9. Freestone 7. O'Connor

Subs 12. Westwood for Simms 45 mins 14. Brown for Atkinson 45 mins and Stephens for Cooke 75 mins

Subs not used 16. Nangle and 17. Hatton

Yellow Cards Holyoak 55 mins

Red Cards none

  

Ilkeston Town fell to their first league defeat since the opening day of the season in a game which all but over after 21 minutes. Russell Cooke returned in midfield and Kristian Stephens and Mark Nangle were relegated to the bench. 

Bromsgrove Rovers took the lead after only three minutes when keeper Andy Love completely misjudged a Marcus Jackson cross only helping it into the net. Eight minutes later Love's night went from bad to worse when he was caught in no mans land and full back Steve Frost scored with a header. Before Ilkeston could steady the ship they found themselves three goals down when Steve Frost scored again with a header this time unmarked from a corner after 21 minutes. 

Ilkeston found themselves with a mountain to climb and even when manager Charlie Bishop substituted both full backs at half time there was no way for a very below par Robins outfit. Ilkeston had one good chance in the second half when Aaron O'Connor provided a chance for Chris Thompson but he placed his shot well wide.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Chris Thompson - Worked very hard in what was a dismal performance overall performance by the Robins

 

Post Mortem

 

Andy Love will want to forget this game. Andy has made some excellent saves for Ilkeston this season and has close to winning the Man of the Match award on several occasions. To some extent this has always been Love's achilles heel brilliant one minute then throws one in the next. It had looked as though he had gained some consistency this season and hopefully tonight's game was just a one off. 

Three goals down after 21 minutes! Well lets look on the bright side. Last season we would have probably let another three in the second half and yes Alfreton lost yet again!.

On Saturday entertain Rugby United and the Robins will be eager to show that they have not lost their form and are real championship contenders. It is no coincidence that Ilkeston have lost their last three games and Marc Laws has missed all three through suspension. Hopefully Ilkeston will soon have Laws and Alex Callery back to galvanise the midfield.