Jamie Walker has added a second for Eastwood CFC to put therm 2-0 up at Blackstones.

Reason brings a save from LE  keeper. Good cross by Rowe but nobody there to finish.     1-1.   68 mins

Ilkeston pen appeal is correctly rejected. Second half is nothing like as intense as the first. Reason fires over from an acute angle.  Wakefield denied by keeper's good save but he follows up to score     1-2     76 mins

Last edited by Matchman (01/8/2026 7:36 PM)

Great defending by Rowe denies LE a chance.  Ilkeston corner. Header is deflected wide.        
1-2.   80 mins

Last edited by Matchman (01/8/2026 3:37 PM)

Ilkeston find the net but its brought back for an Ilkeston free kick. Nothing from it Then a chance for LE at the other end which Avery saves.      2-2      86 mins

Full time.  2-2
 

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Ash Hunter made a big difference to the team in the first half with his ability on the ball, his quick layoffs and one twos. 
Anthony Dwyer was always looking to get into scoring positions so Ilkeston looked good on the offensive.  Long Eaton attacked on the counter down the wings which produced openings for them. I think they realised that there was little chance down the middle with Pharrell Johnson in the way. So a good first half of attacking football.
The game went off the boil in the second half following multiple Ilkeston changes. The score doesn't matter but a draw was a fair reflection. Once again I thought Ilkeston's midfield No 4 was good (always wanting the ball) and Cashmere Rowe was again excellent. The other full back Fedel Ross-Lang did well too and he likes to get forward as an additional attacker. New goalkeeper Theo Avery played the second half and did all that was asked of him but wasn't really tested. 
So a decent Ilkeston performance but we should really be beating Step 4 level teams. 
There should be a couple more signings before the first League match next Saturday. Stockton are one of the best Northern Premier League teams so it will be a baptism of fire after a relatively easy pre-season schedule.
 

Last edited by Matchman (Yesterday 8:52 AM)

Yeh, I like Trialist 4, good technician who plays the midfield anchor and starts a lot of moves. I think you'll find he's Daniel Adiefah. He was with Notts County and had a loan spell with Basford. He linked well with Ash Hunter yesterday. It was worth a fiver to watch 45 mins of Ash Hunter yesterday, he's like a Step 1 player playing at Step 3. Hope we can hang on to him for a while.