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A year ago (Sat 25th Jan 2020) Ilkeston travelled to Wisbech. Despite our poor away form the supporters bus was full.   

Ilkeston team :
1 Ross Durrant, 2 Daniel Melanius-Mullarkey, 3 Billy Bennett, 4 Reece Fyfe, 5 Tom Marshall, 6 Kieran Fenton, 7 Fabian Smith, 8 Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 9 Kieran Wells, 14 Alex Marshall, 11 Mason Lee.
Subs : 12 Kole Lambert, 13/17 Richard Stainsby, 10 Jamie Walker, 15 Ben Squires.  

Sat 25th January 2020  Northern Premier League, South East Division
Wisbech Town  0  Ilkeston Town  2
Ilkeston ended a seven match winless sequence with a goal in each half by Mason Lee and Kole Lambert but the victory was achieved through some excellent defending on a poor pitch. After a long time out through illness, Billy Bennett returned at full back and his incredible goal line clearance was as good as a goal as it kept Ilkeston’s lead intact at the start of the second half. Tom Marshall returned to his centre back role and defended with distinction as did the other defenders. In a physical encounter both sides had a player dismissed.Ilkeston made the early running and Daniel Melanius-Mullarkey’s cross found Kieran Wells whose header was just too high but on 17 minutes Ilkeston went ahead. Wisbech keeper Muhammed Otuyo couldn’t hold on to Fabian Smith’s free kick and Mason Lee was able to fire in the loose ball. Wisbech hit back with efforts from Tiago Nassunculo and Charley Sanders. As the game started to become more physical and animated the referee tried to calm things down by speaking to the occupants of both dugouts. Just before half time Ilkeston nearly went two up when a cracking shot by Wells rattled the Wisbech crossbar. Smith had a shot blocked but Wisbech immediately broke away and Kieran Fenton did well to avert the danger with an excellent tackle. The start of the second half saw Wisbech go very close to equalising. They looked certain to score but somehow Bennett scooped the ball off the line then a minute later Ross Durrant had to produce a stunning save from a blockbuster. As Wisbech continued to press, Fenton diverted a shot by Sanders for a corner. Wells had a chance for Ilkeston after brilliant play by Reco Fyfe and Jack Keeble’s shot was saved by Durrant as both teams looked to score the vital next goal. On 74 minutes Ilkeston were down to ten men when Wells received a second yellow for an over physical challenge but three minutes later Sanders received the same fate. On 82 minutes Kole Lambert chased a long ball forward from Fenton and slotted it past the advancing keeper to put Ilkeston two up. Wisbech’s deflation was visible after conceding the goal and Ilkeston were able to see out the remaining time.