ILKESTON TOWN 2 FRICKLEY 2

A point won or two points dropped? You decide, but without doubt the best performance of the season so far by The Blues.

Returning from injury, Jonny Margetts came back into the lineup and Jack Harrison went back to the bench in a rejig that saw Tyler Williams and Rieves Boocock playing in deep wing back roles.

Straight from the kickoff, Les Bleus were on the front foot, probing the Ilkeston back line but without creating anything clear cut.

Even when The Robins managed to get out of their half, TJ was equal to it, with a couple of smart stops in the first quarter of an hour.

So it was certainly unexpected when a defensive/goalkeeping melee on the edge of the box left Ilkeston’s Jermaine Hollis to pass the ball into the empty Frickley net and give his side the lead in the 16th minute.

The Azzurri thought they’d equalised three minutes later when TJ took a free kick inside his own half, Brad Mc headed on and Margs netted, only for the liner to spoil it by flagging for offside.

It took until six minutes before the break to actually make it all square. Margs was felled as he hared into the box from the left – penalty awarded. Margs got up to convert it himself, crashing his spot kick past the Ilkeston keeper. HT 1-1.

The Blues opened the half with renewed intent. Haze had a couple of chances in the first ten minutes either side of TJ holding onto a stinging drive at the other end.

Not long after the hour mark, The Azzurri were ahead. Haze picked up the ball inside the Frickley half and hit a wonderful diagonal pass to Brad Wells who charged straight down the middle at the defender before firing home from 18 yards.

The lead lasted less than ten minutes. The ref awarded a soft penalty for a bit of pushing and shoving in the box, I’ve seen worse at the checkout in Lidl, and this after initially shaking his head. I suppose that, just like a lady, it’s a ref’s prerogative to change his mind. Ilkeston’s Alex Marshall made no mistake from twelve yards for two-all.

The last fifteen minutes were end to end stuff. There was the odd hairy moment such as when The Robins had the ball in the net but the forward was penalised for climbing as he challenged for the header. But otherwise, The Blues saw out the remaining minutes to take a hard-earned point. FT 2-2.

A new look Azzurri rode their luck at times, but they went toe to toe with a top four side, took their chances when they came and simply played some terribly good football. It’s early days but it’s starting to come together, this is going to be good….

WEBMASTER MOTM – this very watchable game was a real team performance. I could make a case for each and every one of the Boys in Blue. The single error for the first goal aside, Brad Mc, Toddy and Tom D were colossi at the heart of the defence and TJ kept up his run of stops that kept us in it. Tyler and Rieves were revelations at wing back, an unfamiliar position for both – you wouldn’t have known. Holli and Big Dog Currie worked their socks off in the engine room. Then in the attacking third, Haze and Brad Wells were a constant and relentless menace, linking brilliantly for the second goal. But I’m awarding this week’s Glitterball to Margs. He won the penalty and put it away but he also fought for every ball on the ground and in the air like his life depended on it. Bonzer, Sir!

TWITTER MOTM – Brad Wells remarkably takes it for the third game on the trot! Huge congrats on a superb achievement. Margs wasn’t far behind and Haze and Michael Hollingsworth also polled.

485 through the gate with a goodly sized SE contingent, we thank you for your support – in the words of Frecks “Different class”!!