Ilkeston 3
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town were brought down to earth with a bump as they lost 3-1 away at Ilkeston FC in the Evo-Stik League.

Josh Hancock had given the Dabbers the lead just before half time.

But three second half goals from the league’s only full time club saw Nantwich slip to only their third defeat of the season.

Phil Parkinson named the same side for the fourth consecutive game as Nantwich looked to keep pressure on league leaders Blyth Spartans.

Nantwich could have been ahead on just 39 seconds, when captain Darren Thornton crossed for Matty Kosylo who almost connected.

Ilkeston’s Lee Ndlovu then went close, turning to get a shot in but over the bar.

The hosts could have caught Nantwich cold 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.

Bell then nearly scored with a free header from a Steve Jones cross but it went narrowly wide.

Ndlovu could have had the opener on 18 minutes when a long ball bounced through to him, but he fired over the bar.

The game lacked quality from both sides in the first half.

Kosylo was a menace for the Ilkeston defence, but clear chances were hard to come by.

Then the deadlock was broken on 39 minutes when Josh Hancock picked up the ball off Kosylo and looped his shot over the keeper, bouncing in off the bar.

It could have been 2-0 before the interval when a corner was headed across by Mat Bailey to Sam Hall, who fired over the bar in the last action of the first period.

Jones almost doubled the lead after half-time, latching on to Mat Bailey’s pass but hitting the side netting from a tight angle.

But the game changed on 55 minutes when Ilkeston broke and a cross from Print found Ndlovu who was unmarked to head home.

Nantwich could have re-taken the lead through Bell when he struck from distance, but the keeper was able to parry.

Soon after a Steve Jones volley was deflected wide as Nantwich continued to look dangerous.

Kosylo almost stunned the crowd on 65 minutes with an audacious overhead-kick from a long throw from Lewis Short, which flew just over.

Ilkeston took the lead on 67 minutes when a free kick wasn’t cleared and it fell to the skipper Marshall, who fired it past Smith.

White and Osborne went close as they tried long range efforts on goal, but the hosts held strong at the back.

And the game was sealed on 74 minutes when a cross found Ndlovu who headed home a second.

Liam Shotton was thrown on as Nantwich threw caution to the wind.

Gordon should have had a penalty on 77 minutes when he was wrestled to the ground, but the referee gave Ilkeston a free kick for a foul in the build up.

On 85 minutes Bell went close with a long drive which went just over.

Nantwich looked to have a penalty on 86 minutes when Gordon was bundled over and the referee pointed to the spot.

However, the linesman had his flag up for offside against Gordon.

With that decision went Nantwich’s last chance of salvaging a point.

Despite the defeat, the Dabbers stay second in the league table.

Parkinson’s men will be hoping to get back to winning way on Tuesday as they visit Halesowen Town, kick off 7.45pm

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)

Match report written by Richard Scott (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)