|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ilkeston Line up:-
After the embarrassing opening day
defeat at home to Redditch United Ilkeston traveled to Halesowen looking
to restore some pride and dignity. Manager Charlie Bishop made
several changes to the team some enforced and others of his own
choosing. Carl Heggs has left the club and Michael Sisson has
been recalled by Notts County in a bid to counteract their poor start to
the season. Martin Francis was not available so Craig Swinscoe
came in at full back made his debut. Mark Laws filled in in
mdfield, Chris Thompson started wide on the right and Chris
Freestone made his first appearance of the season after returning
from holiday. Both sides were looking for their first points of the season and this was reflected in what was a very scrappy opening 15 minutes. The first chance fell to the home side when a header was placed well wide and minutes later a weak Halesowen free kick was shot straight at Andy Love. Ilkeston however were starting to grow in confidence and Fabian Smith was causing problems down the right. On 35 minutes Smith's strong running gained the Robins a corner. Smith himself took the corner and Mark Nangle scored with a well placed header. For the next ten minutes Ilkeston put Halesowen under pressure and looked likely to increase their lead. The home side however came back strongly and Andy Love had to make an excellent save from a shot boblled. On the stroke of half time ex Robin Mark Hallam did what he has done so often before and scored against Ilkeston. There was nothing Andy Love could do with Hallam's shot which looped over his head and into the top corner. Despite the setback Ilkeston continued to press forward and got their on 46 minutes when another Smith corner was headed home this time but Chris Freestone. Halesowen now through everything at Ilkeston in their quest for an equaliser. They came close with a header on 50 minutes and Jamie March missed an excellent chance on 54 minutes. Andy Love was then called into action to tip an in swinging corner over the bar. The home side then had a series of corners and Andy Love relieved the pressure by making another excellent save. On 66 minutes Joe Atkinson made an excellent last ditch tackle to break up a promising Halesowen move and seconds later Mark Hallam headed over the Ilkeston bar. Halesowen then seemed to run out of steam and it was Ilkeston who looked more likely to score but Chris Freestone and Mark Nangle were being constantly being caught out by marginal off side decision. Eventually Chris Freestone vented his frustration once too often and he was booked by a somewhat over zealous official. Ilkeston seemed to have weathered the storm when Craig Swinscoe was harshly judged to have pulled back an Halesowen forward. However Nick Ashby coolly dispatched the spot kick. In
the dying Chris Freestone had another off side decision go
against him and on his behalf Mark Nangle expressed his views to
the linesman. Unfortunately the official took offence and Nangle was
shown the red card.
WhiteBallProject Man of the Match Joe Atkinson Started well and grew in confidence. Excelled in the second half when Ilkeston were under pressure.
For Halesowen's view of things click here
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
