League

Droylsden Park
Spectators: 7606 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1956, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when James Little took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Jacob Meehan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Droylsden's Will Burkinshaw got a free kick in the 10th minute. Tony Swinscoe's late challenge caught a Ilkeston's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Tony Swinscoe helped the player get up and apologised. Tony Swinscoe kicked well hit freekick during the 12th minute of the match. Jacob Meehan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 14th match minute, Droylsden was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tony Swinscoe to maneuver through the defense. Sly Auckland showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jacob Meehan in the 15th minute of the match. In the 19th minute, James Little left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ilkeston fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. In the 22nd minute, James Little got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 27 minutes into the match, Ilkeston's goalkeeper Aaron Ripley had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Tommy Nightingale. Sly Auckland made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jacob Meehan in the 29th minute of play. Sly Auckland made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from James Little in the 32nd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, James Little managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ilkeston's supporters rose to their feet, but James Little was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sly Auckland breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 38 minutes, Jane Trimble mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ilkeston and the Droylsden players grew even worse after the yellow card. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jacob Meehan in the 42nd minute of play forced Droylsden's goalkeeper Sly Auckland to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jacob Meehan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sly Auckland having to interfere. Sly Auckland made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from James Little in the 47th minute of play. Disappointed in the 0-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Austen Briant made the kick off in the second half. In the 54th minute, Droylsden's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after James Little fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 58 minutes into the match, Ilkeston's goal looked a bit too open when Tommy Nightingale came free, but Aaron Ripley reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as James Little kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Sly Auckland. That made the score 0-4 in the 60 minute of play. Aaron Ripley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Austen Briant, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tommy Nightingale in the 75th minute of play forced Ilkeston's goalkeeper Aaron Ripley to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tommy Nightingale in the 75th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aaron Ripley prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Ilkeston's Aaron Ripley played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Austen Briant in the 81st minute of play. In the 88th minute, James Little fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Sly Auckland, passed just outside the right post. In the 89th minute, Ilkeston's James Little dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-5. Droylsden's goalkeeper couldn't reach when James Little 94 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-6. When the match was over Ilkeston could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Droylsden throughout the match.