Ilkeston Town vs Gresley Rovers
An away team returning from a blood and thunder local derby would normally be satisfied with a point but there was a sense of let down fro Gresley after a bruising battle at the New Manor Ground last night.
Rovers were, after all, the experienced campaigners taking on the Beazer Premier newcomers but Stave Dolby's team failed throughout to raise themselves above the turmoil.
This was game of clout rather than quality and Moat boss Steve Dolby was quite rightly disappointed with his team's performance afterwards.
Rovers certainly matched their hosts for enthusiasm but rarely looked capable of imposing the qualities honed over three seasons in the top flight on their newly promoted rivals.
Over the ninety minutes the Moatmen made perhaps just one good chance to claim a positive result while Ilkeston could look back on the best pressure and the best missed opportunities of the game.
Rovers defensive steel was not at fault not their competitiveness in midfield but not until the belated introduction of Andy Garner did they look anything like an attacking force.
Indeed, had Ilkeston put away their best chance after just 13 minutes Rovers' unbeaten record could be in tatters today despite a display of considerable defensive resolve.
Defender Craig Maddison looked odds on to score when he connected with Steve Thompson's cross in one of the best moves of the night but he blazed high over the bar from just eight yards out.
Rovers had their best spells of pressure but too often it was the wrong player at the wrong time with midfielder Graeme Rigg having more attempts on goal than the rest of his teammates put together.
The first came on 12 minutes when Ady Mann's corner reached the far post only for a headed opportunity to fly wide.
Three minutes later Brian Horseman's cross into a tangle of flying boots ended with Rigg's extravagant attempt at an overhead kick going well over.
Ilkeston looked the more fired up of the two sides and Rovers were forced to endure considerable pressure.
Thompson's well-flighted corners were causing trouble, with the abrasive Mark Harbottle, newly returned from an ill-fated stint at Tamworth, being denied after a clear foul on Stuart Ford.
Ford, fortunately for Rovers, was posing an authoritative barrier to the home side and came from his line to deny Jason Campbell with an excellent blocking save.
Rovers' best moment of the game came seven minutes after half time when Graeme Fowkes' led a swift break before releasing Ady Mann through the centre.
After the midfielder had beaten two defenders to set up a good shooting chance though Mark Hurst hit the ball weakly into Darryl Attenbring's hands.
Much of the remainder of the game consisted of Ilkeston forcing the ball towards a Rovers' goal defended stoically by Nick Stanborough and his back four colleagues.
There were two moments of panic, Horseman capping another excellent display by providing a timely goal line clearance after David Harbottle had for once forced the ball past Ford.
Rovers created just one more half chance to snatch all three points when Garner and the fading Mann linked.
Graeme Rigg was unable to head the winger's cross on target to claim a goal his assured midfield performance deserved.
Ilkeston Town 0
Gresley Rovers 0
Ilkeston Town: Attenbring, Maddison, Clark, Robinson, Gunn, Baily, Campbell, Humphries, D Harbottle (Stark 85), M Harbottle, Thompson. Subs not used: Beckford, Rigby (gk).
Gresley Rovers: Ford, R Wardle, Horseman, Rigg, P Wardle, Stanborough, Fowkes, Marsden (Denby 64), Hurst (Garner 57), Mann, Taylor. Sub not used: Foster.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Graeme Rigg.
Referee: P S Barston (Loughborough).
Attendance: 979
