Late leveller earns hosts a fair point
Blue Square North Hyde United 1-1 Ilkeston Town
Chests out to take deep breaths, the Robins fans bellowed long into the night: "You are my Ilson, my only Ilson."
With a massive Ilkeston flag, they made their presence heard as their side tried manfully to return to winning ways in the league.
The team seemed on its way to three points after working hard to subdue the hosts, who are worrying about relegation and were just as eager to avoid defeat.
In 23 minutes, Alex White's fine pass picked out Josh Burge who did wonderfully well to edge the ball to Matt Godden in the crowded penalty area. The shot was too high but the omens were good.
Dan Holmes picked out Gary Ricketts with a high corner and Charlie O'Loughlin tried to turn home the header but narrowly failed in the 27th minute.
O'Loughlin was up for a Holmes corner in 36 minutes, heading it powerfully forward for fellow central defender Luke Waterfall to finish it off and seize the lead.
Holmes was causing problems and a free-kick might have led to a crucial second goal in the Ilkeston cause. Once again it was Waterfall doing a bit of moonlighting as a striker. The shot went over the top.
Ricketts had been booked and manager Kevin Wilson withdrew him at half-time, fearing a second yellow card and dismissal would lead to another lengthy ban which Ilkeston could ill afford.
On came Amari Morgan-Smith who has been bothered by a chest infection in recent weeks and is working his way back from the subs bench.
Hyde manager Neil Tolson's talk must have used Churchillian phrases because his team emerged for the second-half ready to fight on the flanks, through the middle and just about everywhere else.
They showed their ardour with a 47th minute free kick by Matty Burke, who shortly returns to Alfreton Town. This was headed across by Mark Lees but the ball was cleared.
Moments later, keeper Dan Lowson had his first urgent job of the night, going down at the feet of the onrushing Tom Manship, who once played for Ilkeston. The goalie bravely got the ball just as the offside flag was hoisted.
Ilkeston responded through Rory Coleman but the effort went wide. The winger did well to pick out Morgan-Smith whose good run was judged to have been offside.
Winger Kevin Holsgrove was causing problems by starting on the right and cutting inside to use his left foot to dangerous effect. One cross floated worryingly close to the far post.
In 66 minutes, Sam Duncum emerged from the bench after being in the wars. He got a painful kick at Fleetwood and was then blighted by flu, making him unable to last a full 90 minutes. The Ilkeston fans chanted his name.
A Hyde fan, wearing a red bobble cap, was gloomily preparing for defeat. "We've got used to seeing our team not scoring," he declared to anyone who would listen.
In the 76th minute, he had to get used to seeing his team score when a throw-in caused problems for Ilkeston. Substitute Scott Mooney managed to turn inside a defender and drove the ball home.
The man in the cap said nothing but the stadium announcer cheerily described Mooney as the “Tigers’ goal machine.”
Midfield man Scott McNiven got on the end of a Holsgrove free-kick and put his shot over the bar before swapping passes with substitute, and twin brother, David.
Scott went down as keeper Lowson dived at his feet. The referee was close to play and waited for the Hyde man to get up before booking him for a dive.
Ilkeston were looking disjointed and there was more to worry fans in the 87th minute when Duncum was left in agony after a challenge. He winced as he walked off the pitch 21 minutes after arriving on it.
The night might have ended with a brilliant winning goal the match barely deserved. Burge spotted keeper Michael Jones off his line in the 89th minute and came within an ace of lobbing him.
The goalie got back to save his embarrassment and his side, although he was relieved to see Paul Dempsey’s long range shot being blocked soon after.
The referee ordered four minutes of added time and these began with Holmes linking neatly with Morgan-Smith. They managed to force a corner but alarm bells were ringing at the other end.
Holsgrove cut inside and an Ilkeston defender headed his cross behind for a corner. Defender Ricky Mercer got up for that but White nodded the ball clear.
There was still work for the defence as Hyde forced a couple more corners before the referee halted proceedings and the announcer told his audience: “A very creditable draw, I’m sure you’ll agree.”
Ilkeston Town: Dan Lowson, Tom Bonner, Alex White, Dan Holmes, Luke Waterfall, Charlie O’Loughlin, Josh Burge, Paul Dempsey, Gary Ricketts (Amari Morgan-Smith 46), Matt Godden, Rory Coleman.(Sam Duncum 66, Neal Hooks 87)
Subs not used: Liam Green, Darren Caskey
Referee: J Tyas (Holmfirth)
Att: 269
Robins star man: Tom Bonner
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Weather for Ilkeston
Friday 25 May 2012
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