|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
17th January 2004
Attendance
| 325
Rugby
United |
0 |
1 |
Ilkeston
Town |
|
|
|
Lyons |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
Thoroughly
deserved defeat |
Dobson
kept an unchanged side to the 2-0 win over Clevedon
last week, and there was no real change in performance
as a lacklustre Rugby failed to get out of the starting
blocks.
From
the outset, Ilkeston had the first opportunity after
only a few minutes, as Adam Hart managed to stop Aaron
O'Connor have a clear shot at goal.
It
was a dour game with very few chances and there were
no real notable chances in the first half for either
side. Rugby rarely troubled the Ilkeston defence
with long balls up to new striker Emeka Ejiofor to no
avail.
The
second half wasn't much better, as Ilkeston started
to get into the game more and played the far better
football, as Valley applied very little pressure to
their visitors.
The
more Rugby failed to get any sort of moves or attacks
going, it was becoming more inevitable that Ilkeston
would grab the elusive goal. It came after Rugby
failed to clear their lines and Michael Lyons scored
from 8 yards into the roof of the net.
After
the goal, Rugby suddenly realised that they actually
had to do something to get a result from the game, but
still the quality was lacking in simply finding blue
shirts or playing any sort of football.
Ilkeston
still looked the more likely team to score, although
Justin Marsden did show some promise and glimpses of
his usual game as he burst into the area from out wide,
but he took too many touches and was crowded out.
The
introduction of Dave Pearson, Kevin Charley and Nathan
Thompson didn't bring much difference to the game, until
the last five minutes when Rugby were bound to have
some pressure as Ilkeston tried to sit on their lead.
The
whole of the main stand thought Valley had pulled level
when an almighty scramble including Ejiofor, Thompson,
and Beard saw the ball somehow go past the post.
Remarkably,
despite their lack of performance in defeats against
Bedworth and Evesham recently, Ilkeston found an extra
gear (or Rugby provided them with it) and still were
dangerous on the break and Aaron O'Connor should have
doubled his sides advantage, but Andy Commander made
a good challenge.
The
only clear-cut shot for Valley came in the final minute
as a corner found its way to the edge of the area for
Robbie Beard, but his unlikely curling effort sailed
over the crossbar, along with Rugby's three points.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran (Charley), Williams, Hart,
Rutherford, Commander (Thompson), Squire, Dutton, Beard,
Ejiofor, Marsden (Pearson) Subs | Thomas
(gk), Kattos
Bookings
|
Beard |
