Blyth are bottom of the NPL table, with only 3 wins from 30 matches played.
They are 10pts behind next-to-bottom Mickleover, so anything but a win would be very disappointing for Ilkeston who are sixth and chasing a play-off place.
Blyth Spartans:
1 Bancroft, 2 Oliver, 3 Myers, 4 Richardson, 5 Ridley, 6 Almond, 7 Giraud, 8 Briggs, 9 Hooper, 10 Holvey, 11 Deverdics
Bench : 12 Griggs, 14 Aitkin, 15 Burke, 16 Dixon, 17Gardiner.
Ilkeston Town:
1 Yates, 2 McDonald, 3 Parker, 4 Meikle, 5 Marshall, 6 Minkley, 7 Eratt-Thompson 8 Dixon, 9 Hardwick, 10 Abdullah, 11 Daniel.
bench: 12 Kirby-Moore, 14 Wafula, 15 Wauchope, 16 Stevens, 17 Walker.
Peep! We’re underway. Ilkeston begin by defending the sea end.
Blyth are in their green strip. Ilkeston in blue shirts, blue shorts.
Ilkeston get the ball in the Blyth net but it’s offside, 6 mins.
Plenty of attacking by Ilkeston but nothing at the end of it.
PENALTY to Blyth! It seemed a very generous award to the hosts.
GOAL! Nicky Deverdics converts the penalty, placing the ball into the bottom right corner. 23 mins. 1-0.
Ilkeston continue to be on top, but Blyth almost score again from a breakaway. To be honest it was a bad miss. It should be 2-0.
Coming up to the break and it’s been a disappointing half for the travelling Ilkeston supporters. Lindon Meikle has been booked for a high challenge and McKeal Abdullah for apparent simulation.
Half time: Blyth 1 Ilkeston 0. The Blyth players go off to a standing ovation.
[HT: Notts Co 0 Tranmere 0]
The second half gets underway at Blyth.
Outstanding save by Matthew Bancroft from sub Jamie Walker.
GOAL for Ilkeston. Another half-time sub Jonathan Wafula scores at last. He connects with a low cross in front of the Blyth goal. 56 mins. 1-1.
Diving header from Wafula is just too high.
Chance for Blyth. A back pass is intercepted and Yates has to race out to clear just in time.
It’s mainly Ilkeston on the attack but Dean Briggs forces Yates into action.
Att 569
Dixon gets a yellow for complaining.
Ten mins to go. This will be a poor result if it stays like this.
IIkeston bombard the home goal – no way through though.
Tom Marshall is booked for a foul on the half way line.
[87 mins: Notts Co 2 Tranmere 1]
Yates rescues Ilkeston with a brilliant save.
Great save by Bancroft at full stretch.
Daniel shot is deflected wide as Ilkeston try for a last gasp goal.
Full time: Blyth Spartans 1 Ilkeston 1.
