FRICKLEY 1 ILKESTON 3

Newtons 3rd Law states that every action has an equal & opposite reaction & this was certainly the case yesterday. Having served up the best 45 minutes of the season in the first half at Carlton last Saturday, we were given possibly the worst 45 minutes of the season in the first half yesterday & Ilkeston put the game to bed before half time.

Frickley were better in the 2nd half – Jack Mc pulled one back with a great hit from the edge of the box, the ref missed a stonewall pen & Haze hit the post. This was a result of collective improvement but also Ilkeston taking their feet off the gas.

Here’s what a thespian thought of it all:

The hosts had a pair of early long efforts from Rieves Boocock and Cody Prior, both on loan from Doncaster Rovers. But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 7th when Shaun Harrad nodded in unchallenged from a corner.

Two minutes later Blues’ Jacob Hazel hit the side netting from 25 yards with a rasping drive.

Ilkeston almost got another after 24 minutes when a Frickley head flicked a corner onto his own bar.

Ilkeston did double their lead in the 37th minute when Jermaine Hollis netted from the edge of the box. And there was still time for Harrad to knock a bouncing ball over Frickley keeper Tom Jackson from 12 yards for The Robins’ third right on the stroke of half time.

Ilkeston came out with similar intent in the second half, with a near miss in the just after the restart.

Hazel broke though for Frickley in the 55th minute but fired straight at the keeper from a narrow angle. Then sub Jack McMenemy reduced the arrears 7 minutes later with a fine strike from 18 yards.

Hazel kept the pressure on, hitting the post in the 75th minute, then moments later Jake Currie forced Ilkeston’s Ross Durrant to push his shot wide and out for a corner.

Boocock had a late stab at goal diverted but Ilkeston saw it out to take the points.

WEBMASTER MOTM – firstly a word for the back line, take Todd out of the equation & the average age is 19. Liam Carrick put in a shift at centre half. Jack Mc made a difference up front when he came on & that meant Jake Currie dropped back into midfield & occasionally defence. But the stand out for me was Cody Prior – pretty much covered every blade of grass & generally got stuck in.

TWITTER POLL MOTM – a close one, Jack Mc takes it from Cody & Liam. Thank you to everyone who voted

221 through the gate, thank you to everyone who attended the game

Next up we make the short journey (even shorter for me) to Sheffield FC for a league game. See you there