|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
11th October 2003
Attendance 339
Ilkeston
Town |
0 |
4 |
Rugby
United |
|
|
|
Pearson
41, 62
Dutton
45
Brown
og 85 |
Star
Man | Dave Pearson |
Every
single player had a great game and it was tough
to decide - Danny Hall, Justin Marsden and Gary
Moran were all outstanding, but Dave worked really
hard for his goals and is showing he can net regularly. |
Without
Robbie Beard, who was serving the last game of his two-match
suspension, and goalkeeper Jason Pearcey, who was nursing
an injured thigh muscle, Rugby approached the game with
fire in their bellies after last week's win over Bedworth.
It
took just 15 seconds to register a shot - Gary Moran
getting down the right-hand side before delivering a
cross which Dave Pearson could only steer wide of the
post from 8 yards.
Although
Rugby dominated the game, they did have a couple of
first half scares - ex-Valley striker Chris Freestone,
who scored 14 in 11 games for Rugby in 2002, somehow
failed to connect as Chris Thompson fired the ball across
the goalline after he had got behind the Rugby rearguard.
Justin
Marsden, who created havoc for a poorly organised Ilkeston
defence, should have scored when he turned neatly in
the area, but he shot into the side-netting, and ten
minutes later, he allowed Andy Love to make a save after
bringing the ball down.
United
deservedly took the lead four minutes before half-time,
as Craig Herbert rose to nod down Craig Dutton's corner,
and Dave Pearson was on hand to smash home from
inside the six-yard box.
Just
as both sides seemed content to go in at 1-0, Rugby
struck again just before half-time when Moran found
space on the right after a long Danny Hall pass, and
his low cross was side-footed home confidently by the
oncoming Craig Dutton - netting his second goal
of the season.
Trailing
0-2 at the break, Ilkeston made a strange decision in
substituting goalkeeper Andy Love for replacement Paul
Reece.
It
wasn't long before Reece was called into action, making
a smart save down to his right as Marsden teased the
home defence once more.
Gary
Moran bustled his way into the area, but he could not
divert the ball into the net, before Reece made a top
class save, saving from a Danny Hall diving header after
Pearson's centre.
However,
Reece was left baffled when his defence let him down
again, as Steve Coates inexplicably passed the ball
through for Pearson, who had a free run at goal.
After trying to round the keeper, Pearson was temporarily
stopped by the hands of the home goalkeeper, but Dave
Pearson managed to turn on the ball, to steer the
ball home from a tight angle.
Searching
for an elusive hat-trick, Pearson stormed through the
Ilkeston defence once more, but goalkeeper Reece got
just enough on it to deflect it off course. The
ball somehow found its way to the goalmouth where it
hit the post, and Moran's cheeky lob was dealt with
by Reece.
By
now, Rugby were tearing the home side apart with slick
passing moves. A clever Pearson backheel allowed
Nathan Thompson to penetrate the Ilkeston area, and
his cross was unfortunately turned into his own net
by Tony Brown.
A
superb result, and a great set-up at the New Manor Ground,
with a fine stand, a good pitch and a nice feel to the
place.
Rugby
United | Thomas, Moran,
Thompson, Hart, Herbert, Redgate, Hall, Dutton, Pearson,
Marsden, Squire Subs | Shepherd (gk), Williams,
Shanahan, Commander, Hegarty
Goals
| Pearson 2, Dutton, Own
Goal
Bookings
| Hart |
