Liam Hearn’s first half finish was enough as Jaylon Bather and his Ilkeston teammates warmed up for next Saturday’s league opener with a low-key win over Belper Town.
Ilkeston began the game with Liam Hearn up front, Mike Williams sat in behind with Luis Rose and Rory Coleman on the flanks. Mark Shelton sat with Haydn Goddard in midfield.
From the early portions of the game there was nothing to split the sides, both were looking for intricacy, Belper won an early free kick which sailed straight out. Shelton and Goddard were working hard in the center of the park to keep tracking advancing runs from Jonathon Williams and Jermaine Hollis.
However with 12 minutes gone the first moment of real quality brought the first goal and the ilkeston opener. A searching pass from Williams found Rose in the box who squared for Hearn. The striker showed composure to delay slightly before finding the bottom corner.
Ilkeston continued to press, Williams sliced an effort wide of the far post before several corners were all cleared by Belper. Hearn threatened again forcing a stop at the near post from Danny Haystead, Shelton’s follow up went just wide.
The visitors had their chances too, Alex Steadman headed over the bar at the back post from a corner before Luke Foster had to be alert to snatch the ball off his feet in the box. Williams delivered the corner which Ruben Wiggins-Thomas headed inches over the bar.
The second half was much tighter with both sides digging out chances but chances were at a premium throughout the second half. Rose tried to force the issue early on with a clever back-heel to win a corner but the set piece came to nothing. The winger was then in action again firing just over the bar.
Belper nearly equalized when miscommunication from Matt Baker and Foster at the back allowed Wiggins-Thomas to lob Durrant but the ball went wide. Coleman nearly hit a wonder goal with a volley which crashed off the bar and bounced on the line, Williams hit a follow up which was saved at point blank by Haystead.
The introduction of Anthony Dwyer added some more speed up top and he nearly found the second with a clever turn and strike which went just wide.
But Ilkeston recorded another Pre-season win as the preparations end for the new season. Next up is the visit of Stafford Rangers on the opening day of the season next Saturday, 3pm kick off.
|