Nantwich Town 1
Ilkeston 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town new signing Sam Cosgrove made his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Ilkeston FC.

Cosgrove joins the Weaver Stadium outfit on loan from League One Wigan Athletic.

The forward, who has previously had loan spells at Barrow FC and Chorley FC in the Vanarama leagues, was thrown straight into the team to face Ilkeston.

But the visitors were not just there to make the numbers up as more than 420 supporters turned out to see Nantwich attempt to re-fire their promotion bid.

After some early exchanges, it was Ilkeston who began to apply concerted pressure on the hosts’ goal.

And this paid off on 40 minutes when a throw in landed a the feet of Ndlovu, who turned smartly and crashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Udoh had a half chance to double the lead before the break, which was welcomed by a strangely lacklustre Nantwich.

Phil Parkinson’s team came out firing in the second half, with Josh Hancock and Matty Kosylo having early chances to level.

Cosgrove then had the ball in the net on 53 minutes, but celebrations of a debut goal were cut short by the offside flag.

Steve Jones then crashed a shot off the bar, and minutes later Sean Cooke also struck the woodwork as Nantwich pressure intensified.

It finally paid off on 72 minutes with a deserved equaliser.

Kosylo fired the ball across the box, and Jones was on hand to tap home.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but defences stood strong and Nantwich’s frustrating Evo-Stik Premier League form continues.

The draw sees the Dabbers slip down to seventh place, out of the play off places, and having played more games than most teams around them.

Match report written by The Nantwich News