Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Ilkeston Town

Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill must be wondering how many black cats have crossed his path recently as another influential member of his squad looks set to miss the rest of the season if the suspected injury Mitch Hanson suffered against Ilkeston is confirmed by the doctors.

On the half hour mark Hanson appeared to land a little awkwardly and was left in agony lying on the pitch. Gresley's physio was quickly on to attend to him and it was soon obvious that the injury was a serious one. Hanson was then taken to Derby Hospital with what is suspected as a ruptured Achilles. The club are now awaiting the outcome of the hospital's diagnosis.

The injury put a dampener on the game as nine minutes previous the home keeper Ryan Swift also had to leave the game with a groin injury to be replaced generously by Ilkeston's substitute custodian.

Both sides made this pre-season game an entertaining one with some good play from all the players on show.

Ilkeston started well with a header over the bar. Gresley responded with a free kick by Jack Langston which found Hanson who's header went straight the keeper. The unfortunate Hanson was then replaced after a delay of 7 minutes.

The visitors came out for the second half looking for a goal and Gresley's goalkeeper made a fine block with his legs to keep a low shot out. Gresley switched the play to the other end with Dereece Gardner dashing down the right before firing a shot which lacked pace making it easy for the keeper.

Gresley's stand-in keeper was in action again to deny Ilkeston diving to his right to push a well struck shot wide for a corner.

However, he could do nothing to prevent the Robins from taking the lead. A deep cross was not defended allowing a header to beat the keeper.

Gresley's keeper was the busier of the two with another good save tipping the ball over the bar. On 75 minutes Ilkeston doubled their lead when a cross from the left was controlled before being fired past the keeper at the far post.

What could have been considered as the goal of the game came two minutes later when Gresley's Ryan King made a run down the right before cheekily lobbing the keeper from just outside of the area.

That superb effort was surpassed with just 7 minutes of the game remaining. Gresley were awarded a free kick on the left near the edge of the area. Lucas Harrison looked as if he was going to hit a shot but instead rolled the ball to his right to Langston who fired a thunderbolt of a strike which left the keeper standing as it rocketed into the top far corner of the net.

Ilkeston had two further late chances of grabbing the win but again were denied by good saves ironically by their own keeper who was in the Gresley shirt!