League

Ilkeston
Spectators: 8535 (Terracing: 6402, Seating: 1963, VIP seats: 170) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ralph Bärwald took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Kurt Hart had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 14th minute, Fairfield's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Matty Eckstein fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Matty Eckstein fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Casey Lonsdale having to interfere. 23 minutes into the match, Ilkeston's Ralph Bärwald sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Casey Lonsdale narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 23rd match minute, Fairfield was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Chris Durrant to maneuver through the defense. Ralph Bärwald recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpected shot in the 28th minute by Matty Eckstein got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Ralph Bärwald hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Fairfield's Casey Lonsdale got control of the ball when Matty Eckstein tried to sneak it across the goal line. 36 minutes into the game, Chris Durrant was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Fairfield's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ilkeston the free kick. The supporters of Ilkeston booed when Fairfield was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Chris Durrant didn't get a good kick on the ball. After recieving a nice pass, Ilkeston's Ernie Auerswald tried to score from far away in the 37th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the 43rd minute Ralph Bärwald shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Casey Lonsdale saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Kurt Hart had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The wind increased when Jon Bayne made the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Ilkeston! 55 minutes into the game, Fairfield's Sly Granger nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Milo Gerhardt made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. 58 minutes into the match, Bodo Olabanjo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Casey Lonsdale. Fairfield's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Bodo Olabanjo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 61st minute, Philip von Fürstenberg hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Kurt Hart received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Milo Gerhardt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 71 played minutes Ilkeston got a freekick which was hit by Bruno Grünewald. In the 73rd minute Rio Lilley managed to get in a great position but fired away a sharp shot that went outside the goal on the goalie's right hand side. It could just as well have been a goal. Milo Gerhardt made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kurt Hart in the 75th minute. Casey Lonsdale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Matty Eckstein, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Matty Eckstein recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 81st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Casey Lonsdale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Matty Eckstein, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Ruben Beicht hit a great freekick 88 minutes into the match. Milo Gerhardt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jon Bayne in the 90th minute of the match. After 93 minutes, Philip von Fürstenberg mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ilkeston and the Fairfield players grew even worse after the yellow card. Philip von Fürstenberg hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Kurt Hart might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Milo Gerhardt. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kurt Hart ran back to his position shaking his head. Jon Bayne sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 96th minute, Raphaël Favre hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Despite being the better team, Ilkeston failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.