League

Tatsfield Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Ilkeston's James Little started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 6 minutes, Graeme Ellis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Tatsfield FC and the Ilkeston players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 6th match minute, Tatsfield FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Graeme Ellis to maneuver through the defense. Antony Collingwood took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 6th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Carl Robertson. Tatsfield FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. If Jacob Meehan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Marc Poynton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Jane Trimble fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ilkeston's protests and gave Jane Trimble a yellow card for diving instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 26th minute, Romeo Donaghy managed to get in a good position for a shot. Tatsfield FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Romeo Donaghy was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Aaron Ripley breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Ilkeston's Henry Corbridge got a free kick in the 28th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Ilkeston's zone, Romeo Donaghy stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aaron Ripley came out of the goal and Romeo Donaghy tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If James Little had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 31st minute, Jacob Meehan ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Carl Robertson was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Tatsfield FC's Carl Robertson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jacob Meehan in the 36th minute of play. In the 41st minute James Little shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Carl Robertson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Aaron Ripley showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Graeme Ellis in the 43rd minute of the match. The Tatsfield FC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ilkeston were winning 0-1.

James Little received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Carl Robertson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 54 minutes into the match, Jacob Meehan notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Tatsfield FC's Carl Robertson. Carl Robertson was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 57 minutes, Marc Poynton made it 1-2 with a short kick to the right side. Ilkeston's Aaron Ripley tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. James Little fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carl Robertson having to interfere. James Little sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Ilkeston booed when Tatsfield FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Reggie Alsop didn't get a good kick on the ball. Aaron Ripley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marc Poynton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aaron Ripley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Romeo Donaghy, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 78th minute, Romeo Donaghy hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 82nd minute Marc Poynton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aaron Ripley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Carl Robertson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from James Little in the 88th minute of play. If Romeo Donaghy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Ilkeston eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.