Ilkeston Town 
1 Wharton, 2 Minkley, 3 Parker, 4 Thornhill, 5 Marshall, 6 Whyle, 7 Brandy, 8 Essien, 9 Fox, 10 Dixon, 11 Youmbi.
Bench: 12 Trialist, 13 Trialist, 14 Harvey Kirby-Moore 15 Green, 16 Trialist, 17 Daniel, 18 Trialist, 19 Trialist, 20 Trialist.

Ilkeston attacking the car park end.   We're off........

Good save by Wharton from McKenna.  Harrogate are not allowing Ilkeston any time on the ball. Ilkeston free kick causes problems but a Harrogate defender boots the ball away from the goal line and danger. 
Drinks break on 16 mins.     0-0

Keeper Belshaw has to be replaced.  Trialist takes over between the sticks for Harrogate. Free kick to Harrogate. Minkley clears.  Ilkeston break out but the shot goes wide.   Good effort by McKenna but Wharton is in position to save.   0-0.     30 mins

Youmbi breaks free but he's offside. Ilkeston are finishing the half strongly. Youmbi's cross is blocked for a corner. thorn hill fires over after good play by Essien.  Good Ilkeston move but Fox's cross isn't good enough.
Good parry by Wharton and Ilkeston eventually clear.        0-0.   43 mins

Last edited by Matchman (Yesterday 12:49 PM)

Second half is underway...

Brandy tries to set up Fox in the area but the ball runs away.  Dixon replaced by Kirby-Moore  on 55 mins

Kirby-Moore  goes down in area. Nothing given.   Excellent skill by Thornhill.   Free kick Ilkeston is blocked. Kirby-Moore finds Fox but his effort is quickly blocked by a defender.      0-0.     67 mins

Attendance 344

Last edited by Matchman (Yesterday 1:30 PM)

Another drinks break on 77 mins.    0-0

Great chase by Brandy but his cross goes behind.  Several trials come on for Ilkeston.    0-0.   85 mins

Thought Matt Thornhill was Composed and Sam Essien Electric in the Midfield. Brandy was Frustrating with a Lack of End Product. Iam Concerned Where the Goals will come from, Obviously that Assumption isn't Based on Today.

pezamb wrote:

Chuckle wrote:

Thought Matt Thornhill was Composed and Sam Essien Electric in the Midfield. Brandy was Frustrating with a Lack of End Product. Iam Concerned Where the Goals will come from, Obviously that Assumption isn't Based on Today.

              """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I get what you mean, and totally agree. I do think, however, that Robbie Fox looks a real prospect, really hardworking and dynamic.. I think he will do well but may need a few games to get going

                     """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Here's my opinion:
That was a decent team performance in high temperature exhausting conditions against a good Harrogate side. The League 2 side started well and it took us some time before we matched them but once we did it was an even game. They came closest to scoring with the cracker that hit the post and Tom Cursons should have scored with a header early on. 
I thought we defended well but never looked like scoring. I thought Matt Thornhill was superb with Sam Essien not far behind. Defensively we look sound. I was concerned about losing Matt Yates but I'm starting to think Dylan Wharton will be a good replacement. I have confidence in the old guard of Tom Marshall, Callum Minkley and Sam Parker and I think Tyler Whyle is steady and settling in nicely. Connor Dixon had a quiet game but we know he's a good player. We now have two attacking wingers in Dylan Youmbi and L'Varn Brandy which I like. Youmbi looks a good signing with his speed and skill. Regarding Brandy, I'm a fan. I like the way he's always willing to take on defenders. That leaves Robbie Fox. I've not made my mind up yet. He certainly puts the effort in and maybe he just needs to find the net to boost his confidence. 
That was the starting eleven. Last season regulars Colin Daniel and Harvey Kirby-Moore came on in the second half and we were without my favourite player Jamie Walker and new signing AJ Greaves. I'm wondering where Walker can be deployed most effectively. 
I was a bit concerned about our prospects after the Eastwood performance but we were much better against Harrogate. 


 

Last edited by Matchman (Today 6:25 AM)