Ilkeston :
1 Ross Durrant, 2 Fabian Smith, 3 Billy Bennett, 4 Tom Marshall (C), 5 Kieran Fenton, 6 Joe Maguire, 7 James Cullingworth, 8 Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 9 Kieran Wells, 10 Kole Lambert, 11 Reco Fyfe.
Subs :  14 Alex Marshall, 13 Richard Stainsby, 12 Alex Render, 15 Joe Wilson.

Leek Town :
1 Daniel Roberts, 2 Joshua Agbozo, 3 Louis Keenan, 4 Marc Grocott, 5 Oliver Harrison, 6 Darren Chadwick (C), 7 Matthew Bell, 8 William Reeves, 9 Timothy Grice, 10 Charlie Walford, 11 Robert Stevenson.
Subs :  12 Jacob Tutford, 14 Lewis Short, 15 Valdermar Schousbe, 16 Jesse Balanganga, 17 Christopher Baker.
 

Last edited by Matchman (22/2/2020 2:27 PM)

The Leek fans are making themselves heard. Leek keeper, Roberts has to boot clear as Wells chases a ball forward. wells wins the first corner.  Reco cross is taken by Roberts. Stevenson power shot is pushed out by Durrant.       0-0       5 minutes

What a start. Terrific goal by Lambert and it's lifted Ilkeston who are now on top. Reco glides past two defenders but Leek clear his cross.          1-0       14 minutes

Good effort by Stevenson but it's wide following good Leek move. Bennetts ball in is grabbed by Roberts at second attempt. Leek are playing a risky high line at the back.          1-0      21 minutes

Fenton free kick is too high. Good run by Wells but his pass to Lambert is cleared. Bell-Toxtle header is just wide after good play by Reco.  Reco is doing really well.   Amazing save by Durrant. Looked like a certain equaliser.        1-0       35 minutes

We're off again     ....

Another Leek corner from which Grice fires miles over. Good Ilkeston attack but Leek defend well. Then good defending by Fabian Smith,   Another Leek corner. Pressure is building a bit.         1-0   56 minutes

Again Maguire to the rescue. Good spell for Ilkeston now.  Marshall sends Wells away but Roberts makes fine save. Another Leek player booked. Think it was Agbozo.  Walford replaced by Schousbe for Leek        1-0       69 minutes

It's 2-0 and every Ilkeston player celebrates the goal.   Lambert again    71 minutes.  Volley by Fyfe was pushed out by Roberts but Lambert was there to blast home from close range.

Last edited by Matchman (22/2/2020 10:39 PM)

Leek are second best right now but it only takes a goal for momentum to change. Nasty tackle by Grocott but he gets away with it.      Ten minutes left          2-0         80 minutes

Leek have given it everything but they can't find a way through.        90 minutes are up We're into added time.  Wells is replaced by Alex Marshall.   

Sat 22nd February 2020
Northern Premier League, South East Division
Ilkeston Town  2  Leek Town  0
Leek Town’s thirteen game winning run was brought to an end by a battling Ilkeston team who produced their best performance against the runaway league leaders. Kole Lambert’s two goals gave Ilkeston a richly deserved win and Leek were defeated for only the second time this season.
Leek had the first opportunity when Robert Stevenson’s shot was deflected wide but Ilkeston were making light of the heavy going and took the lead after just seven minutes. Lambert latched onto a loose ball and fired home a rocket from the edge of the area giving keeper Daniel Roberts no chance. Leek hit back but Ilkeston were making chances too and were good value for their lead. Stevenson had another chance for Leek but his effort flew wide. Fernando Bell-Toxtle was close with a header from Reco Fyfe’s cross but Leek nearly equalised on 35 minutes but were denied by a  Ross Durrant super save. The league’s leading scorer Tim Grice was thwarted by Durrant at close range as Leek tried to get level before half time.
Leek started the second half strongly and Durrant had to save an early header. Then Kieran Fenton did well to clear following Louis Keenan’s low cross as Ilkeston were put under pressure. But the Robins were defending well with Joe Maguire outstanding. Tom Marshall put Kieran Wells through but Ilkeston’s striker was denied by Roberts. Ilkeston were always looking dangerous when moving forward with Fyfe causing Leek plenty of problems and they were rewarded with a second goal on 70 minutes. A Fyfe volley could only be parried by Roberts and Lambert was there to blast home from close range. As Ilkeston celebrated, the Leek supporters let off a smoke bomb behind Durrant’s goal which caused a disturbance and stewards had to move in and calm things down. Back on the pitch Leek were trying their best to find a way back but were not able to penetrate a determined Ilkeston rearguard. On 88 minutes Durrant pulled off another brilliant save and Leek must have known it wasn’t going to be their day. In the final moments Maguire again showed great composure and resilience as Ilkeston held out for a famous win. 

For next season there are some very difficult decisions to be made by the management and players themselves. This is where I would be crap as a manager because I would want to keep everyone especially when they are really likeable people as well as decent footballers. I would presume if the management see someone who is better in your position and they are affordable your place will be under threat. It should motivate those players who want to fight for their place and be part of the Ilkeston Town journey! I'd hate to name players but I think you have picked the three who might be priorities and I'd probably sign the next five as well. Oh alright I would sign most of the squad and bankrupt the club again!! I will stick to Football Manager I can't upset anybody on that.
Although we are mid table there is a lot to play for for the players!

I am hoping that they will ask me to do the same thing but I was going to ask for a small fee in exchange! I missed the Wisbech win, the Sheffield win and I have lost count of all the others!