 Jaylon Bather played IslandStats.com
Ilkeston started the game in familiar fashion with Anthony Dwyer up front; Luis Rose and Rory Coleman were on the flanks. Danny Gordon returned to the side alongside Haydn Goddard. Mark Shelton sat behind Dwyer.
Ilkeston began the game with impetus and confidence, Connor Walters played a clever square ball to Rose but the winger’s effort went just past the top corner. Hednesford Town replied with openings, Lewis Wright sprung clear in the box but the effort was wide. Gurjit Singh then tested Ross Durrant but Durrant held well.
The best Ilkeston chance of the half came from Shelton who found space in the box but saw his attempt well saved by Dan Crane at close range. Once again Hednesford pressed in response, Ashley Sammons stung a strike wide of the post before he had another moment of danger; firing way over the bar.
The ever dangerous Hednesford Town midfielder continued to threaten the Ilkeston goal, his effort from just outside the box went narrowly wide of the top corner.
George Carline lacked accuracy with his shot, firing into the side netting with Durrant stretching.
Ilkeston’s attack seemed to dry up as the first period wore on, long balls forward played into the hands of the Hednesford central defenders, and too often the ball would be lost in midfield areas thus attacks would be sporadic.
Coleman’s free kick was another nearly moment for Ilkeston, but the strike went way over the bar. However with 39 minutes gone, the visitors led. A long ball into the box reached Carline at the back post who nodded into the far corner to give the Pitmen the lead they wanted at the break.
The second half continued in the same manner as the first, Jamie Matthews forced a sharp stop from Durrant in the box before Coleman had another free kick opening but again the strike went into the wall. Then with 54 minutes gone, it was two for Hednesford; a flowing attacking move ended with Sammons tapping in from a square ball to add to the frustrations.
Jones entered the game and had a chance a few minutes after coming on, heading fellow substitute Rhys Dolan’s cross wide. Ilkeston then pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go, a loose clearance from Hednesford Town fell to Ben Morris who hit a wonderful low shot into the bottom corner.
But as the momentum began to turn and Ilkeston began to look dangerous for the first time in the game, the NMG floodlights cut out after 85 minutes and could not be restarted. The referee waited for around ten minutes before abandoning the game.
The floodlights did manage to be restored at around 10.15pm emphasising a technical issue and not contrary circumstances.
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