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Amari at the double in Robins win
Blue Square North Ilkeston Town 2-1 Blyth Spartans
AMARI Morgan-Smith struck twice as ten-man Ilkeston Town held on to claim three points at the New Manor Ground on Saturday.
It was a win they could perhaps count themselves lucky to achieve after a second-half that saw them fail to record a shot on target and Tom Bonner sent off for a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go.
Morgan-Smith was first to threaten in the second minute when the ball broke to him in the penalty area but he fired his low shot straight at Spartans keeper Jack Norton who saved with his legs.
Blyth looked more likely to score after that and Paul Brayson was closest, first firing a free-kick straight at Dan Lowson in the Ilkeston goal and then forcing the Robins custodian into a fine block with a half volley from 12 yards out.
Former Ilkeston man Neal Hooks headed over from Ian Graham's cross on 23 minutes, before Morgan-Smith struck the opener ten minutes later.
The Robins striker elected himself as the taker of a free-kick 25 yards out. His woeful first effort struck the wall and an even worse attempt at a rebound was also blocked. If he was trying the same trick a third time when the ball returned to him again he failed miserably but at least had the consolation of seeing his low drive find the corner of the net.
And the same player doubled the advantage four minutes later. Josh Burge tackled well to win the ball in midfield and released Gary Ricketts, who in turn fed a fine ball through for Morgan-Smith. The pacy forward held off a challenge and scored with a low shot which took a slight deflection as it made its way past Norton.
Blyth controlled most of the second-half and when they pulled a goal back on 53 minutes it looked as if Ilkeston were set for a tough challenge if they were to maintain their lead.
A corner wasn't cleared and when Brayson hooked the ball back across from the byline, Robert Dale arrived to head home from a couple of yards out.
Chances were few and far between despite the visitors' dominance, while Bonner saw red on 70 minutes for a foul on Graham, the second time referee Sarah Garratt had needed to caution him and to the baths he went.
Brayson nearly levelled on 76 when he forced another fine save from Lowson after Hooks' cross, and with seven minutes to go Graham fired well over the bar when free on the edge of the box.
But that was that and Ilkeston held on for the points.
Ilkeston: Lowson, Bonner, Murphy (c), Holmes, O'Loughlin, Waterfall, Burge, Green, Ricketts, Morgan-Smith (Watts 56), Zoomers (Ghaichem 60). Subs not used: Coleman, Godden, Caskey.
Blyth: Norton, Harrison, Brackstone, Todd, Foster, Pell, Hooks, Turnbull (Tait 41), Brayson, Graham, Dale. Subs not used: Williams, Alexander, Gillies, Bell.
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Weather for Ilkeston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Light snow
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