Ilkeston supporters are hoping for a fifth win on the bounce at their favourite away game. Not that this is a lucky ground for us – the opposite in fact – but Whitby is such a lovely place to visit.
Ilkeston are currently 4th in the NPL table, Whitby 11th, so perhaps we can win this time.
Teams –
Whitby Town:
1 Shane Bland, 2 Louis Stephenson, 3 Sam Collins, 4 Gary Liddle, Connor Smith, 6 Jassem Sikar (c) 7 Arron Haswell, 8 Adam Gell, 9 Connor Simpson, 10 Layton Watts, 11 Nathan Thomas.
Bench: 12 Lewis Hawkins, 14 Alfie Steel, 15 Alfie Doherty, 16 Matthew Timon, 17 Nicholas Cranston.
Ilkeston Town:
1 Matt Yates, 2 Callum Minkley, 3 Sam Parker, 4 Declan Eratt-Thompson, 5 Tom Marshall, 6 George Wilkinson, 7 L’Varn Brandy, 8 Colin Daniel, 9 Tom Cursons, 10 Connor Dixon, 11 Jordan Stevens.
Bench: 12 Lindon Meikle, 14 Jonathan Wafula, 15 Cormac Maher, 16 Casey Johnson, 17 Harvey Kirby-Moore.
Whitby are wearing their blue strip; Ilkeston in red. Ilkeston are defending the sea end.
Peep! We’re off.
Purposeful start by Ilkeston. They’re looking good in the opening ten mins. Connor Dixon has had a good run to get the Ilkeston fans’ hopes up.
Close call as Whitby nearly score following a corner.
[FT: Salford 3 Notts 0]
Another near miss by Whitby as they improve rapidly. A lob beats Yates but just goes over the bar.
Stevens is almost through for Ilkeston but is fouled as he approaches the box. Dixon shoots from the free kick, keeper Bland saves.
Excellent collect by Bland from Cursons’ cross.
Whitby shot hits the bar and goes over. Still goalless with ten mins to go in the first half.
George Wilkinson sustains a head injury and has to leave the field for treatment. Ilkeston down to ten.
Wilkinson back on.
Ilkeston keeper Yates is being kept busy.
Half time: Whitby 0 Ilkeston 0.
Second half:
Wafula has replaced Stevens who had been signalling he had an injury first half.
Cursons is brought down in the area but nothing is given.
A Whitby shot hits one of their own players and he needs treatment from the physio.
Tom Marshall booked for a foul on Watts.
Before that Whitby had a big chance, but in fairness the player had to react very quickly.
Ilkeston are creating chances but so are Whitby.
Brandy is replaced by Meikle on the hour as Ilkeston search for a way to make a breakthrough.
Whitby have a strong defence and Shane Bland is handling crosses with great skill.
Powerful shot by Meikle is brilliantly saved by Bland.
Then Yates in action too as Whitby have a good spell.
Connor Dixon off, Harvey Kirby-Moore on as Ilkeston bid to end the stalemate.
4 added minutes indicated.
Good save by Yates.
It’s ended goalless.
FT Whitby 0 Ilkeston 0
