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Tuesday 17th October - Ilkeston Town 1-2 Frickley Athletic

The Blues produced a tremendously improved performance to come from a goal down to beat Ilkeston Town 2-1 this evening. Mark Ward scored the 90th minute winner although the Blues were greatly indebted to goalkeeper Jon Hood who saved an 81st minute penalty from Dougie Wade. Danny Walsh had earlier equalised for the Blues.

Manager Billy Heath was without the injured Steve Kennedy, Dean Jones and Calum Selby but new signing Steve Heath came into the side, partnering Lee Stratford in the centre of the defence with Adam Pollock at left back.

The Blues started the game positively with most of the early possession in the Ilkeston half although the home side were the first to force a goalkeeper to make a save Hood did well to push Justin Walker's 25 yard free-kick around the post after 14 minutes. The Blues were dealt a blow on 16 minutes when Mark Crossfield was forced off through illness and was replaced by Scott Turner. Minutes later Hood was called on again, this time to tip an angled shot from Leon McSweeney around the post. Ilkeston took the lead after 21 minutes as Chris Adam got goalside of Chris Hilton to advance towards Hood who bravely blocked at Adam's feet only for the loose ball to fall to find its way to McSweeney who blasted into an empty net from the edge of the box. However, the Blues responded swiftly and deservedly equalised two minutes later. Stand-in captain Rob Pell won the ball following a throw-in down the right and fed Alex Callery who, from a tight angle, drew Ben Scott before cutting the ball across the six yard box for DANNY WALSH to race in and score from close range. Mark Ward then tried his luck from distance but his angled 25 yard shot hit the side netting with Scott struggling whilst on 38 minutes Ward and Callery combined down the right for Callery to collect the return pass inside the box and turn inside his marker before seeing his left foot shot from 12 yards well blocked by Scott.

Early in the second half Adam Muller fired just wide of the right hand post from 25 yards for Ilkeston but the Blues were soon on the attack. On 64 minutes Pell found himself in space 20 yards out but Scott did well to block his powerful shot. Hood then tipped an angled 20 yard shot from Adam over the bar before a good run from Turner saw him fouled 25 yards out but Pell's rocket-like free-kick was punched over the bar by Scott. The Blues then had a great chance to take the lead when Callery broke down the left before finding the run of Walsh to the edge of the box. Walsh unselfishly fed the unmarked Turner to his right but instead of taking the ball in his stride with his right foot Turner opted to turn inside on his left and fired just over the bar. After 76 minutes a Callery free-kick from the left found its way to the impressive Heath at the back post but the ball was scrambled off the line whilst seconds later Pell sent Callery cutting into the box from the left and his cross eluded Scott and was met by Ward 12 yards out only for the ball to appear to blocked on the line by the arm of Lee Featherstone. The Blues were then hit by a sucker punch as Adam broke into the box from the left and went down under Adam Pollock's challenge with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. However, Jon Hood guess correctly and dived to his left to save Dougie Wade's penalty. The Blues kept pressing for a winner and got their reward almost two minutes into stoppage time when Turner pulled the ball back across the box from the right and WARD volleyed in from 18 yards.