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Wednesday 10th October - Ilkeston Town 3-1 Frickley Athletic

Another amazing refereeing decision cost Frickley dearly on their visit to Ilkeston in the UniBond Premier Division and played a part in their defeat.

The Blues were trailing by a goal in the 50th minute when Andy Hayward flicked on a long ball from Steve Robinson towards Lee Morris inside the box only for Ross Gardner to block the ball with his arm.

Referee IA Dudley immediately blew for a foul but, to the visitors amazement, awarded a free-kick outside the penalty area. Neil Redfearn's effort was blocked by the Town 'wall' and the ball eventually cleared.

In the first kinute, Adam Muller played the ball inside Chris Hilton to Lee Powell, who put a low, angled shot inches wide, but Frickley responded, a free-kick by Redfearn in the 15th minute being only half cleared and Hayward put a tight angled effort in which Paul Pettinger managed to save.

A minute later, Neil Ross hit a 30 yard free-kick which Jon Hood held at the second attempt, and Muller broke clear a minute later but fired over from a good position.

A Town corner kick was only half cleared in the 40th minute and Gardner went close from 18 yards, while Ilkeston went ahead two minutes later, Muller breaking down the left and crossing for Justin Waller to strike from close range.

The home side made the most of their let-off by increasing their lead in the 54th minute, a free-kick from the left being headed in by Nathan Winder, although the Blues also threatened, Richard Marchant, signed from Ossett Town, clipping the bar with a header after a corner kick by Chris White in the 64th minute.

Martin Carruthers picked out Lee Featherstone in 73rd minute who laid the ball into the path of Gardner and he lifted it over the advancing Hood for Ilkeston's third goal.

Four minutes later, Morris broke down the right for the Blues and while his cross was partially cut out by Winder, the ball dropped for Redfearn who drilled an 18 yard shot into the opposite corner to reduce the arrears.

Continuing to press, the visitors almost narrowed the gap again in the 84th minute, Chris Gowen whipping in a ball from the left which Richard Tracey volleyed a whisker wide.