SPL Premier Central
Ilkeston Town 3 (Lita 24pen, 80, Eratt-Thompson 72)
Royston Town 3 (Bateman 55pen, Brighton 65, Murray 70)
Ilkeston came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw for the second week in a row as we shared the spoils with Royston Town.
It was another pulsating encounter, just as the clash with Needham Market was seven days earlier, with the Robins having the lion’s share of possession and the better chances but again seeing defensive weaknesses come to the fore with the concession of three goals in 15 second-half minutes.
But again we bounced back and, as against Needham Market, could even have won the game late on.
The first-half saw few chances early on until Tom Hilton headed wide from a Remaye Campbell cross on 17 minutes.
Seven minutes later we took the lead, as Leroy Lita turned Michael Turner in the penalty area before being hauled back and a spot-kick was given. Lita stepped up to slot the ball home from 12 yards.
Lita and Connor Dixon both saw long range strikes go close, then Jordan Hallam thought he’d doubled the lead from close range but he was judged offside after sliding the ball home and half-time arrived with just the one-goal lead.
Royston came out strongly in the second-half and their purple patch began on 55 minutes. A free-kick on the edge of the D was struck by James Brighton but hit the hand of Hallam on its way towards goal and another penalty was given. Matthew Bateman did the honours and it was 1-1.
Harrison Foulkes then produced a stunning save to deny Bateman after an error at the back, his shot tipped over the bar.
Moments later, Royston led, as a the ball dropped invitingly to Brighton 25 yards out and the left-back dispatched a stunning volley across goal and past Harrison Foulkes to put his side in front, the scorer then immediately substituted and greeted with a hug from his manager.
The visitors’ third came on 70 minutes, when a corner was flicked on by Turner and fellow centre-half Adam Murray headed home off the underside of the bar.
Any thoughts of it being game over weren’t entertained by the Robins players and within two minutes they’d reduced the arrears, Dec Eratt-Thompson letting fly from 25 yards and the ball finding the top corner of the net.
Lita and Hallam then both saw shots saved by Dimi Kyriatzis before our equaliser came with ten to go, a corner not being properly cleared and when Campbell headed back across goal, the ball got a touch from Lita and despite Kyriatzis clawing it away, it had already crossed the line.
Both sides pushed for a winner without seriously testing the respective goalkeepers, and once again the fans went home having been fully entertained at the Microlise NMG.
Ilkeston: Foulkes, Eratt-Thompson, Wilder, O’Malley, Delap, Fenton, Campbell, Dixon, Lita, Hallam (Patterson 77), Hilton (Woakes 66)
Not used: Kozluk, Woodward
Royston: Kyriatzis, Dasilva, Brighton (Nakatani-Brown 66), Hoddle, Murray, Turner, Harness (Rolfe 79), Bell-Toxtle, Bateman, Williams, Barnwell (Newman 62)
Not used: Crowther, Castle.
Att: 463
Report by Mark Duffy