August 5th2017
Uttoxeter Town (1) 1
Redshaw 15
Ilkeston Town (0) 1
Shaw 86
 
Att 267
 
Uttoxeter Town – Avery, Beardsley G, Beardsley J ©, Cockshutt, Dyche, Esplin, Hall, Price, Redshaw, Woodroffe and Morgan. Subs James, Collins, Metcalfe and Warburton Subs not used Richards and Swinfield .
 
Ilkeston Town – Bodkin, White, Walker, Lench ©, Jemson, Hodgett-Young (Shaw 55), Robinson, Edwards, Gibson, Hopkinson and Bennett (Marshall A 66). Subs not used Stredder Gk, Simmons P, Simmons G.
 
Ilkeston Town  Pl1 W0 D1 L0 F1 A1 Pts 1  Pos 10th
 
Note Uttoxeter appear to have bought on four subs according to FA Full Time website. We are sure this will be corrected in time.
 
Ilkeston Town started their most recent resurrection at sunny Uttoxeter. A record crowd of 267 were swollen by the vast majority from Ilkeston who had travelled down the A50 hoping to see the Robins start their new life with an emphatic win. Uttoxeter however had not read the script and, despite escaping after Bill Bennett had hit the bar, broke away to take the lead against the run of play through Matthew Redshaw after fifteen minutes.
Ilkeston continued still to have the majority of the possession but were finding it difficult to break through an extremely well organised Uttoxeter defence. The Robins also had a number of good penalty shouts waved away as they continued to press forward. Uttoxeter also showed that they could be dangerous on the break and Ian Robinson became the first Ilkeston Town to be booked when he hauled back a Uttoxeter player when beaten for pace. He could feel himself lucky to avoid a red card as he was the last man.
The second half started at with the same pattern despite the fact the home side having two good early chances to increase their lead as the Robins committed more players forward. On 55 minutes things seemed be getting worse when Elliott Hodgett-Young pulled up and had to be replaced by Chris Shaw. Ilkeston’s players and fans were starting to become frustrated as it looked like the Robins efforts were going to prove fruitless as Uttoxeter grew in confidence. With minutes remaining Ilkeston gained yet another free kick outside the box and Shaw stepped to power an excellent drive into the top corner past the outstretched hand of Jake Avery. The relief for the travelling fans almost turned to unbridled joy as they nearly snatched all three points in the dying seconds.
In the end Ilkeston had to settle for one point and the knowledge that the new era was not going to be the walk in the park as some people may have expected. They will have to mix physical grit with cultured football and they will be looking  to have a greater aerial presence up front especially when situations dictate a long ball game. Ilkeston will however play teams not as well organised as Uttoxeter and will certainly not face players every week with the silky skills and tenacity of Uttoxeter’s Matthew Redshaw who was undoubtedly the Man of the Match.
Ilkeston’s next test is a game against Heath Hayes who drew 5-5 with Lichfield City which suggests they may be play with a more open style which may suit the new Ilkeston Town  team when they make their eagerly awaited New Manor Ground debut next week.
The final word must go the wonderful people and fans of Uttoxeter and the incredible travelling support from Derbyshire. A wonderful day despite the draw!

Click her for pic >> DGe0cjmXsAEMm7A.jpg and here >>  DGe0xerW0AAI3f-.jpg:large

Last edited by WhiteBallProject (05/8/2017 11:48 PM)