A year ago this weekend Ilkeston played their second 2019-20 preseason friendly against Airbus UK at Broughton. Despite it only being a friendly, a full bus load of supporters made the journey to Flintshire and they were rewarded with an unlikely Ilkeston win after being 0-2 behind. Lee Fowler was the Ilkeston manager and this was the Ilkeston team :

1 Liam Mitchell, 2 Ben Reeves, 3 Billy Bennett, 4 Jermain Hollis, 5 Matt Baker, 6 Mitchell Robinson, 7 Lavell White, 8 Reco Fyfe, 9 Andre Johnson, 10 Alex Marshall, 11 Jamie Walker.
Subs : 13 Richard Stainsby (GK), 14 Abdou Cole, 15 Kieran Rowlands, 16 Fabian Smith, 17 Jermain Palmer.



Match Report :
Airbus UK, Broughton  2  Ilkeston Town  3
In their second pre-season friendly, Ilkeston came from behind to surprise their highly rated Welsh Premier League opponents. Jermain Palmer scored a second half hat-trick to complete a stunning Ilkeston comeback. It had seemed like a damage limitation exercise would be needed at half time when Airbus led by 2-0. It could have been much worse as just before half time Ilkeston keeper Liam Mitchell was sent off and Airbus were awarded a penalty with a chance to go three up. 
Airbus started the stronger and went ahead with a header on 7 minutes. Ilkeston were struggling to create any kind of chances against a rock solid Airbus defence and they fell further behind on 16 minutes. Ilkeston gradually fought their way back into the game and Lavell White went close with a shot that was tipped over. A chance also fell to Alex Marshall but again the keeper saved. Reco Fyfe was prominent for Ilkeston but Airbus were generally dominating possession and should have scored a third on 44 minutes from the spot. Mitchell appeared to speak out of turn and saw red. Richard Stainsby came on to replace Mitchell and face the spot kick. Diving to his left he pulled off an excellent save to keep Ilkeston in the game.
Ilkeston started the second half much better and defender Mitch Robinson went close on 50 minutes with a header following a corner.  Stainsby was tested at the other end before Palmer pulled one back for Ilkeston with a header on 57 minutes only moments after coming on. The goal lifted Ilkeston’s spirits and Airbus were no longer the dominant team. Chances at each end were now becoming more regular. Airbus had a good chance with a swift break but Stainsby smothered the shot when facing a one on one with an Airbus forward. The home side went close to restoring their two goal advantage when a fierce shot whistled over the bar on 75 minutes but two minutes later Ilkeston equalised. A shot came back off the post to Palmer who thrashed it in from close range to make it 2-2. Airbus were stung into action and made a big effort to regain the lead forcing Ilkeston to defend in the final minutes. An Airbus header went just wide and Stainsby was kept busy as the hosts pressed for a winner. Then in the 93rd minute the winner came but not for Airbus. Lavell White won a corner for Ilkeston following a break out of defence and when the corner came over Palmer was in the right place again to complete his hat-trick leaving the Flyers with no time to recover. 

                                                                                                                       *******************

What a turn round. Airbus were superb in the first half and Ilkeston were lucky not to be out of the game. It looked like it might be a heavy defeat but once we got one back it was a different match.  After Palmer had equalised, Airbus made a big effort to find a winner and put Ilkeston under some severe pressure but the winner came at the other end. Replacement keeper Richard Stainsby was outstanding following Liam Mitchell's sending off. It's not often a team comes back to win after going two behind. Although only a friendly, It was a very uplifting victory very much enjoyed by the fifty-odd supporters that made the journey.



Yet another example of Ilkeston's fantastic supporters who paid £15 each to travel all the way to Broughton for a presason friendly.


 

Last edited by Matchman (03/7/2020 2:28 PM)