SPL Premier Central
Ilkeston Town 3 (Bradley 25, Campbell 48, 55)
Kings Langley 0
We secured our fourth home win in a row on Saturday with what was ultimately a comfortable win over Kings Langley, but one that wasn’t without its scares.
Two Remaye Campbell goals early in the second-half killed the visitors off after a more even first-half, but overall the Robins dominated possession and deserved the points.
The visitors began well, James Ewington’s shot and Ryan Case’s free-kick both going close.
Montel Gibson was then sent in towards goal by Dempsey Arlott-John’s through ball but the striker’s lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net.
We were then denied what replays showed to be a clear penalty when Arlott-John was brought down in the area but he was instead booked for simulation by the referee.
The opening goal finally arrived on 25 minutes, as Joe Wilson swung in corner from the left and Dan Bradley got up to head home from close range via a touch from a defender on the line for his first Robins goal.
Ollie Battersby then had to be alert to tip an effort from early sub Cain Keller wide of goal, before the visitors’ best chance of the afternoon came on 38 minutes when Arlott-John brought down Alex Lafleur in the penalty area but Brad Wadkins’ spot kick was weak and saved low down by Battersby.
The second-half began perfectly for the Robins when after Lamine Sherif’s shot was deflected for a corner, Wilson again swung the flag kick in and found Campbell who headed home from a few yards out.
Seven minutes later, Campbell would score again, this time sliding a low shot into the far corner of the net after working himself space in the penalty area.
More chances would follow, Gibson seeing two efforts saved then Dec Eratt-Thompson was unlucky to see his curled effort strike a post.
Kieran Fenton headed over from a corner and Gibson again tested keeper Hafed Al-Droubi late on, but three would be more than enough as we held out to keep a second clean sheet in a row, watched by over 1,000 people who had taken up the club’s offer of free entry for the day.
Ilkeston: Battersby, J Wilson, Wilder, Eratt-Thompson, Bradley, Fenton (c), Campbell (T Wilson 72), Sherif (Thomas 55), O’Grady, Gibson, Arlott-John (T Wilson 62)
Not used: Delap, Deeney
Kings Langley: Al-Droubi, Okoye-Ahaneku, Lafleur, Case, Kaloczi, Johnson, Mulley (Keller 16), Tajbakhsh, Wadkins (Dunbar-Bonnie 65), Ewington, Gardiner-Smith (Hoskins 56)
Not used: MacNab, Berman
Att: 1,183
By Mark Duffy