Matlock Town FC vs Ilkeston Town
Matlock Town FC
1The Proctor Cars Stadium
Northern Premier League
Ilkeston Town
2Match Report
MATLOCK TOWN 1-2 ILKESTON TOWN
Matlock’s bad run continued as they threw away a lead and allowed Ilkeston to score two late goals as the Gladiators snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at the Proctor Cars Stadium on Easter Monday.
A wonderfully executed free kick from skipper John Johnston on 73 minutes looked to have finally mathematically confirmed Matlock’s placed in the top tier of the NPL for next season. But first Jaiden White ten minutes later and then Callum Minkley in the last minute of the statutory ninety broke Matlock hearts leading to another sinking feeling among the home support.
Quite simply, Matlock should not have lost this game but not making the most of their chances and then sloppy defending late on cost them.
The Gladiators made three changes to their line up with Myles Wright deputising for the ill Saul Deeney in goal who was named as a substitute. Liam Hardy played alongside Scott Boden while there was a long awaited return in midfield for Andrew Wright who had returned from loan at Long Eaton. Harry wood and Connor Dimaio who played against Marine two days earlier were also on the bench
.In a slow beginning, Robins skipper Tom Marshall drove off target from distance with Johnston’s promising break for the Gladiators ending as the Ilkeston defence closed ranks on him. Johnston’s cross from the right ought to have given the hosts the lead, it only needed a touch but there was nobody in blue to finish off. Then an effort from Ioan Evans was knocked off the line.
Matlock were incensed they did not get a penalty on 19 minutes when Kornell McDonald appeared to be pushed to the ground before Tavonga Kuleya’s ball in from the left was cut out well by goalkeeper Matt Yates after Joe West and Andrew Wright had initiated a swiftly taken free kick.
Matlock could not make the most of another probing ball from Johnston as the Ilkeston back line scrambled the ball clear before Hardy’s shot was deflected for a corner and from the second phase of the set piece he headed comfortably wide. All Ilkeston offered after the early Marshall effort were long range efforts from Connor Dixon and Tom Cursons that were no trouble whatsoever for goalkeeper Wright.
Another chance went begging as Johnston sliced wide when well placed after being found by Boden before McDonald became the first of five Gladiators booked by fussy referee Elliott Kaye who didn’t seem to grasp that an official does not have to issue a yellow card for every foul. McDonald limped off injured in the incident before Wright, Nathan Whitehead wood and Yates followed him into Mr Kaye’s notebook.
Ilkeston came more into the game with Lindon Meikle firing wide on the hour but out of the blue it was the Gladiators who snatched the opening goal, Yates only being able to get a despairing finger tip to Johnston’s excellent delivery which nestled in the top corner.
But Matlock could not hold on, there was an element of fortune however about the Ilkeston leveller, Cursons shanking his effort from an Alex Marshall cross, the ball falling conveniently for WHITE to hammer home.
Panic seemed to set in for Matlock, their defence failing to deal with a long clearance from Yates which found Cursons who hooked too high.
Ilkeston sensed the worry in the Matlock camp and capitalised on it as MINKLEY rose to meet a cross towards the back post to head firmly beyond Wright who again when deputising for Deeney had a sound game.
Matlock were the architects of their own downfall and while it was a generally sound performance, they threw away the chance of a morale boosting victory far too easily.
MATLOCK TOWN: 1 Myles Wright 2 Kornell McDonald (16 Harry Wood 55) 3 Joe West 4 Nathan Whitehead 5 Adam Yates 6 Ioan Evans 7 John Johnston (15 Curtis Durose 89) 8 Andrew Wright 9 Scott Boden (12 Ollie Clark 81) 10 Liam Hardy 11 Tavonga Kuleya Other subs: 14Connor Dimaio 19 Saul Deeney
ILKESTON TOWN: 1 Matt Yates 2 Larell King 3 Jaimie Walker (17 Ben Hutchinson 87) 4 Dec Erratt-Thompson 5 Tom Marshall 6 Callum Minkley 7 Jonathan Wafula 8 Connor Dixon (12 Koby Erratt-Thompson 76) 9 Tom Cursons 10 Lindon Meikle (15 Alex Marshall 77)11 Jaiden White Other subs: 14 L’Varn Brandy 19 Mitch Leivers
REFEREE: Elliott Kaye (Derby) ATTENDANCE: 917 BEST GLADIATOR: John Johnston