Dabbers defeated at Ilkeston

IT wasn’t a good day at the office for Nantwich Town as they were brought down to earth with a bump at Ilkeston FC in the Evo-Stik League, proving that anybody can beat anyone in this division.

Josh Hancock had given the Dabbers the lead just before half time. But three second half goals from the league’s only full time league side saw the Dabbers slip to only their third defeat of the season.

They say ‘If isn’t broke, then don’t fix it’ and that was the case for the Dabbers as boss Phil Parkinson named the same side for the fourth consecutive game as Nantwich looked to keep up the pace with league leaders Blyth Spartans at the top of the table.

Nantwich could have been ahead on just 39 seconds, when captain Darren Thornton sped off down the left wing and crossed for Kosylo, however Tuesday’s hat-trick couldn’t connect to the cross with his head and the ball drifted wide of the goal.

The first real chance of the day, when to Ilkeston on five minutes when a cross to the edge of the area allowed Lee Ndlovu to turn and get a shot away. But it flew over the bar.

Andy White was able to get a cross in on eight minutes after some great Nantwich play. It looped goal wards and almost caught keeper Ross Durrarnt out but he was able to gather the effort. It would have been some goal for the defender if he had found the target.

Ilkeston could have caught Nantwich on the hop when a Dabbers corner was cleared and allowed the Robins to counter attack. However Matt Bell got back and was able to clear the danger, it was great determination from the former Mansfeild Town man to get back and help do the defensive duties for the Dabbers.

Bell could have made it 1-0 to Nantwich on 12 minutes when Steve Jones crossed to the midfielder, who had a free header and it went narrowly wide of the goal when most in the New Manor ground thought it was on it’s way in.

Ndlouv was the key man for the Robins and on 18 minutes could have the opener when a long ball bounced through to him. He turned with Harrison on his back and he put it over the bar. The presence of Harrison certainly did put the forward off.

Ndlovu could have had a penalty midway through the first half when he went down as Thornton cleared. However referee Ms Oliver wasn’t interested in the Robins faithful appeals.

White was lucky not to go in the book on 29 minutes when he brought down Michael Williams as he advanced goal wards but he just got a talking to by the referee.

The game was lacking quality from both sides as the interval loomed. Thornton could have a had a goal when he hit a deep cross towards the goal, however it was too close to the keeper who gathered it with ease.

Kosylo did well on the 34 minute mark to force a corner when he turned three men just outside the area and got his cross but it was blocked out for a corner.

Nantwich’s best chance of the half came from the resulting corner when the corner bounced around the area and fell to Hancock, he headed over when he looked certain to hit the back of the net.

The deadlock was broken on 39 minutes when Hancock picked up the ball off Kosylo and the former Witton man launched an effort towards the goal, it looped up and over the keeper before bouncing in off the bar.

Something special was needed to break the deadlock and it was certainly something special!

At the other end Thornton made to make a last ditch block to deny the Robins an instant equaliser as McKay broke into the area following a weak clearance from Harrison.

It could have been 2-0 for Nantwich right before the interval when a corner was headed across by Mat Bailey to Sam Hall. But he fired over the bar in what was the last action of the first half.

The second half started with the Dabbers quick out of the blocks and won a corner just 42 seconds as Kosylo played in Jones, who's shot was blocked. From the corner Jones went close as Bailey hit the ball back across the area. However the former NI international was to hit the side netting from an acute angle.

Parky made an early change when just four minutes into the second half Hall was withdrawn for Elliot Osborne.

The Nantwich are always well backed by the supporters in each game and this was the case as they used their vocal backing to urge for that win.

However on 52 minute Ilkeston’s could have an equaliser when Bell lost the ball and the Robin’s attacked but Williams saw his effort go well over Smith’s bar.

The hosts were level when they broke on the Dabbers on 55 minutes and a cross from Print found Ndlovu who was left unmarked and he headed home, a killer of a goal for the Dabbers to concede as they were looking the stronger side in the game.

Nantwich picked themselves up and could have re-taken the lead through Bell, when he struck from distance. But the keeper was able to parry it wide of a corner.

The Dabbers had another chance when a throw in wasn’t cleared and Steve Jones volley was deflected wide.

Jones was injured and from the corner the ball broke to him and McKay robbed him and attacked. Luckily for Nantwich Thornton put him off enough for Williams to fire over the bar.

Kosylo could have sown up the ‘goal of the season competition’ on 65 minutes, when a long throw from Short bounced to him midway inside the Ilkeston area and he tried an overhead kick. But it flew over the bar, much to the disappointment of Kosylo.

The Robins took the lead on 67 minutes when a free kick wasn't cleared from near the touchline and it fell to the skipper Marshall, who fired it past Smith and into the back of the net.

White and Osborne went close as the tried long range efforts on goal. But the Robins held strong at the back.

The Robins went 3-1 up on 74 minutes when a cross found Ndlovu who headed home a second and it put them comfortably ahead of Nantwich and this meant the Dabbers had to throw everything forward in a bid to get something out of the tie.

Parky responded by bringing off Bailey and replacing him with forward Liam Shotton. So down to three at the back.

Nantwich kept going and Gordon should have won a penalty on 77 minutes when he was wrestled down to the ground in the area. But the referee gave Ilkeston a free kick for a foul in the build up to Gordon being dragged down to the ground.

Ndlovu showed his not so good side to the game when we was booked for persistent fouling and for an over the top protest to the referee after he was adjudged to have been offside.

On 85 minutes Bell went close with a long drive from outside the area. But it went just over Durrants bar.

Nantwich were seemingly awarded a penalty on 86 minutes when Gordon was bundled over in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. However the linesmen had his flag up for offside against Gordon and when the referee consulted the linesmen, she changed the mind and gave the offside against Nantwich.

This was tough at 3-1 down it was a big moment as had the referee given it you would have put bets on Kosylo or Osborne hitting the target to make it 3-2 with just four minutes to go.

In injury time Gordon had an effort to reduced the arrears. But the effort sailed over the bar as they looked for any way possible to get a way back into the tie in the final act of the game.

It was a disappointing start to October as they slipped to their first league defeat in over a month.

However with Darlington losing at home to Marine, it means the Dabbers stay 2nd in the league table.

Parkinson’s men will be hoping to get back to winning ways tonight when they visit Halesowen Town in the league, kick off 7:45pm

Ilkeston FC: Durrant, Print, Luto, Wheatley, Baker, Marshall (c), Doyle, Burgess, Ndlovu, McKay and Williams Subs: Harness, Rachoni (on for Luto), Bako, Weston and Udoh

Nantwich Town: Smith, White, Thornton (c), Harrison, Bailey, Bell, Jones, Hall, Hancock, Kosylo and Short. Subs: Osborne (on for Hall), Shotton, Moran and Gordon(on for Jones).

Attendance: 455