SPL Premier Central
Hednesford Town 2 (Graham 38, Glover 70)
Ilkeston Town 2 (Lita 51, Fenton 59)
We had to make do with a point on the road on Tuesday night as struggling Hednesford battled back to earn a 2-2 draw.
Despite dominating possession in a first-half of few clear cut chances, we couldn’t make a break through with Leroy Lita and Kieran Fenton both going close.
And we’d pay just before half-time as Hednesford took the lead, Jordan Graham sliding in to finish from close range after a left-wing cross found him six yards out.
The second-half saw us come out strongly and after Jordan Hallam saw a shot deflected wide, Lita was then sent clear on 51 minutes and he finished well against his former club to make it eight goals in eight games since arriving at Ilkeston.
Dec Eratt-Thompson’s looping volley was then just to high as we tried to turn the screw, and the lead came on 59 minutes when Joe Wilson’s left-wing corner found Fenton eight yards out and his downward header beat keeper Luke Jackson and nestled in the corner of the net.
Hallam went close again when his effort across goal struck the foot of the post, and sure enough the hosts would make us pay as sub Danny Glover benefited when a cross from the right wasn’t cleared as he controlled and fired into the corner.
Hallam twice saw shots deflected wide as we continued to put pressure on, but despite some promising attacks late on we couldn’t find the killer touch and ultimately had to make do with a point.
We return to action on Saturday with a trip to Bromsgrove Sporting.
Hednesford: Jackson, Yeomans, Morley, Agustien (Asomugha 46), Patterson, Portman (McQuilkin 88), Tilt, Parker, Graham (Glover 58), Brogan, Thorley
Not used: Hartley, Williams
Ilkeston: Hiddlestone, Wilson, Wilder, Eratt-Thompson (Thomas 71), Delap, Fenton, Campbell (Woakes 82), Dixon, Lita, Hallam (Patterson 82), O’Malley
Not used: Hilton, Woodward
Report by Mark Duffy