Match Report Ilkeston Town
Bamber bridge fell to defeat at home to Ilkeston town curtesy of two sets of quick-fire goals in the second half.
The first half had little to separate the two sides with Michael Potts having the best chance of the half, his effort from the edge of the box testing Mathew Yates.
Brig could have taken the lead less than 5 minutes into the second half; a Sky Sinclair cross was met by the rising Billy Bould in the box and his header was somehow kept out by Yates.
Brig came close again on the hour mark Sinclair with a low cross to Bould who was again thwarted by Yates’ reaction save.
Yates was again called into action to deny Brig, a Callum Leigh corner was met by Potts, but the Ilkeston keeper was equal to his header.
Brig had the wind in their sails and kept the pressure on from the following corner. Ilkeston failed to clear the cross and Macauley Wilson surged into the box and unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle that narrowly went over the bar.
68 minutes in Ilkeston took the lead. Against the run of play Lindon Mielke cut in from the right, his effort took a wicked deflection that saw the ball loop past the helpless Hunt and into the goal.
Immediately from the kickoff the ball broke to substitute Alex Marshall who rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net to score Ilkeston 2nd goal in as many minutes.
Brig responded well to the setback and were handed a lifeline in the 73rd minute. Simon Grand was brought down in the box giving captain Wilson the chance to halve the deficit and bring Brig back into the game from the spot. Wilson converted his penalty sending the keeper the wrong way to keep the game alive.
With the momentum back in Brigs’ favor the home side continued to dominate proceedings, creating several chances all of which were kept out. Jack Baxter came closest to finding the equalizer for the hosts, his powerful effort from just inside the box was kept out by the wrist of Yates.
From the resulting corner Ilkeston countered, Thomas Cursons collected the ball on the right-hand side before darting into the box and curling his effort past Hunt to score Ilkeston’s 3rd and secure the win for his side.
Ilkeston’s 2 goal lead would be restored with the last kick of the game, Jamie Walker converting a penalty following a foul on Cursons.
A disappointing result for Brig who will look to bounce back when they take on Whitby town at home on Saturday.
by Noah Mills
