SPL Central
Mickleover FC 1 (Bateman 87)
Ilkeston Town 1 (Ward 37)
A late equaliser from Joe Bateman denied us all three points in Monday’s local derby at Mickleover.
Player-boss Jamie Ward had put us in front before half-time but without being able to kill the hosts off with a second goal, there was always the risk they would get level and they did so with three minutes of normal time to go.
With Joe Wilson injured and Henri Wilder suspended, we began with Dec Eratt-Thompson and Silvio Bello at right-back and left-back respectively, although that altered again at half-time with Eratt-Thompson forced off injured and Finn Delap moving to full-back.
The first-half saw us dominate proceedings. Remaye Campbell saw an early shot deflected wide then Ward’s chip was easily gathered by keeper Jonathan Hedge.
Lee Tomlin nearly put us in front on 17 minutes when a corner reached him on the edge of the penalty area but his delicate chip towards the top corner of the net was headed off the line by ex-Robin Ryan Wilson.
Campbell saw another effort go high and wide from an angle was we continued to be the bigger threat, while Sports’ first threat came when Elliott Reeves’ shot was blocked by Ollie Battersby after he’d dispossessed Kieran Fenton on the byline.
We took the lead on 34 minutes, as Campbell fed Ward in the penalty area and he fought off the challenge of Mitch Rose before finishing low past Hedge.
There was then controversy as Mickleover’s Jake Scott was shown a second yellow card for an apparent foul on Dempsey Arlott-John, only for the referee to rescind it having spoken with his assistant who presumably felt no foul had been committed.
Campbell then fired over the top when in a good position six yards out for Ilkeston as we went in at the break with just the one goal advantage.
Few clear cut chances were created in the early stages of the second-half, Reeves’ cross turned just past his own post by sub Dan Bradley and then Silvio Bello flashing a cross-come-shot across the face of goal for the visitors.
After Arlott-John had shot low at Hedge on 67 minutes, Mickleover began to carry more threat and seconds after Reeves headed against the crossbar, another former Robin in Rhys Dolan saw his long-range effort tipped over the top by Battersby.
Reeves forced Battersby into another save and Fenton headed well wide from a corner, then Arlott-John put a good chance over the top having found space in the penalty area.
The hosts then got level when we lost possession in midfield and after a break down the left the ball was squared to sub Bateman who slammed home via the underside of the crossbar.
There was still time for a Fenton free-kick to be deflected over the crossbar in stoppage time, but ultimately the points were shared.
We are back in action on Saturday with the visit of AFC Rushden & Diamonds to the Microlise New Manor Ground, with free entry for all spectators.
Mickleover: Hedge, Scott (Butler 84), Dolan, Mann, Watt, Trueman, Rose, Wilson, Reeves, Beavon, Greaves (Bateman 46)
Not used: Bosworth, Osideko, Mills
Ilkeston: Battersby, Eratt-Thompson (Bradley 46), Bello, Thomas, Delap, Fenton, Campbell, Ward, O’Grady, Tomlin, Arlott-John
Not used: Fyfe, Hilton, Dube, Deeney
Att: 672
Report by Mark Duffy