WhiteBallProject » Tue 25 Jul : Ilkeston v Mickleover : ko 7 45pm

Matchman · 23/7/2023 10:39 AM

Things are looking much brighter following the performance against Belper and we now have a chance to continue the improvement against the team who finished one place above us last season.

Matchman · 24/7/2023 6:10 PM

.
Last season when Mickleover came to the NMG they outplayed us and raced into a three goal lead before we pulled a couple back but lost 3-2. We played much better at the Don Amott Arena and deserved to win after Jamie Ward put us ahead but we conceded a late 86th minute equaliser and drew 1-1.
This was our team:
1 Ollie Battersby, 2 Declan Eratt-Thompson, 3 Silvio Bello, 4 Jack Thomas, 5 Finn Delap 6 Kieran Fenton (C), 7 Remaye Campbell 8 Jamie Ward, 9 Chris O'Grady, 10 Lee Tomlin, 11 Dempsey Allott-John.
Bench : !2 Dan Bradley, 14 Reco Fyfe, 16 Tom Hilton, 17 Thabang Dube, 19 Saul Deeney.

Only three of that squad remain.

Last edited by Matchman (24/7/2023 6:10 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 9:57 AM

.
Tonight should be a competitive match against Derbyshire rivals Mickleover who although only 10 miles from Ilkeston will be competing in the Southern League.

Mickleover will be keen to bounce back from a 6-1 drubbing last Saturday at Buxton.

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 10:03 AM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 1:06 PM

.

VS

July 25, 2023 7:30 pm Friendly 2023/24

The above is from Mickleover website. Our twitter account says 7 45pm kick off

.
Come and watch the legend that is LEEEEEEE-ROY

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 2:06 PM)

Alex · 25/7/2023 4:04 PM

These are the games I like in pre season. Teams at the same level as us.

Also we can see where we are at. I think against belper in our last game we played well.

Last edited by Alex (25/7/2023 4:05 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 6:25 PM

.
Here’s how we line up this evening. #OneTownOneClub
7:22 pm · 25 Jul 2023

Matchman · 25/7/2023 6:39 PM

Five minutes to kickoff.

The teams are out. Ilkeston are in red and white. Mickleover are in all blue.
Ilkeston to kickoff attacking the car park end

We're off

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 6:49 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 6:53 PM

Free kick to Mickleover just outside area. Yates saves the shot. Big chance for Mickleover but No 7 blazes over after bursting through. 0-0 5 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:02 PM

Great tackle by Fenton prevents a definite scoring chance. Declan tests the Mickleover keeper. Another counter attack chance for the Micks but it's over the bar. 0-0 14 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:07 PM

Another good save by Yates. The scoring opportunities are falling to Mickleover. Chance for Tucker but keeper saves. 0-0 19 mins

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 7:09 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:17 PM

Sharp chance for Fenton but his shot is blocked. Nice Ilkeston move ends with a poor effort over the bar. Mickleover are on top just now. 0-0 29 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:25 PM

Declan crosses , Lita heads goalwards but keeper collects. First Ilkeston chance for a while. Mickleover so close toan opening goal but the shot is inches wide with Yates unable to get to it. 0-0 37 mins

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 7:36 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:30 PM

Tucker wins a corner. Ward is taking every dead ball kick. Fenton is receiving treatment and leaves the field. He's back on. 0-0 41 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:34 PM

Yates wins a one on one to keep the scores level. Good defending by Tucker.

Half time 0-0

Mickleover have been the better side but we go in level.

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:45 PM

Mickleover look a good side. Their passing has been more accurate than Ilkeston's. Mickleover have had far more scoring opportunities and Ilkeston have Matt Yates to thank for some excellent goalkeeping.

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:50 PM

Second Half is underway....

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:55 PM

It's been all Mickleover since the restart. 0-0 50 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 7:57 PM

Goal for Mickleover. Really poor start by Ilkeston. 0-1 51 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:02 PM

Mickleover are enjoying 90% possession just now. We can't get the ball off them. 0-1 57mins

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 8:09 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:05 PM

Several changes are being made by Ilkeston now to stem the tide 0-1 60 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:12 PM

Lita shot diverted for a corner but nothing comes from it. Bit better from ilkeston since the changes.
0-1 69 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:19 PM

Attendance 236
Good effort by Lita under pressure but his shot is deflected for a corner. Mickleover still on top. 0-1 76 mins

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2023 8:20 PM)

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:25 PM

Good run by Tolley and he wins a corner which again comes to nothing. 0-1 82 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:28 PM

GOAL Ilkeston scored by No 12 Well placed shot into the top corner of the net.

And Tolley nearly makes it two . great save by keeper 1-1 83 mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:33 PM

Ilkeston sense they could win now. 1-1 87mins

Matchman · 25/7/2023 8:37 PM

Full time 1-1 To be honest the result was better than the performance.

Alex · 25/7/2023 10:15 PM

It's going to be a bloody long season

Matchman · 25/7/2023 11:03 PM

For anyone who didn't go to the match, we were totally outplayed for much of the game. Matt Yates saved us from a humiliating defeat. Fenton and Declan Errat-Thompson played well but Declan sustained an injury which forced him to go off. We never looked like scoring until Zottos hit the surprise equaliser to deny Mickleover the win they deserved. The surge of optimism which followed the Belper performance has evaporated after witnessing tonight's performance. Either Mickleover were very good or we were very poor.

Matchman · 26/7/2023 6:49 AM

I spoke to several people after the game last night and there is a genuine fear that we will struggle to survive in the Northern Premier with this team. The first 15 minutes of the second half we couldn't get the ball never mind do anything with it. Jamie Ward had to bring on the subs to try to halt the humiliation. Thanks mainly to the efforts of Jack Tolley who came on, we managed to stem the tide and produce a few chances towards the end. The equaliser was a surprise but an excellent piece of skill and finish from Basile Zottos, another of the subs.

Against Belper we played well and lost. Last night we were awful and drew. The only positive from last night was that we have a decent goalkeeper in Matt Yates who was easily our best performer. Mickleover must be wondering how they didn't win.

WhiteBallProject · 26/7/2023 10:21 AM

On a positive note I think Mickleover have made some good signings this season so should do well. I was not at the game or any of the other preseason games bug it does look like we will need to work hard to survive at step 3. I was told that financially we are a step 4 club who just holding their own as a club at step 3. Maybe it is time for us all to realise how good our club actually is! Maybe we should be thankful we are where we are? I think Dave Hilton’s decision to buy Scunthorpe has not been good for Ilkeston Town or Dave himself. If ever Dave sells up at Scunthorpe he would surely come back to where he is loved? I feel for him as he has poured a wad of cash into Scunny and all he has had his grief. It looks like their former owner Peter Swann is trying to milk Dave for as much as he can get.

Up here in Alnwick the local club Alnwick Town are starting the season as favourites to win the Northern Football Alliance. Pity they have not played a home freindly yet!