Ilkeston Town 0-0 Shepshed Dynamo
Ilkeston Town played out a goalless draw in their latest pre-season friendly with Shepshed Dynamo on Wednesday.
It was a game that saw plenty of chances for both sides, particularly the Robins in the second-half, but neither team could ultimately make the break through in what was certainly an energetic pre-season run-out.
Saul Deeney was called into action early on to dive at the feet of Dempsey Arlott-John when he broke into the penalty area, then Keiran Fenton headed over the top at the other end from a Jamie Ward corner.
Arlott-John tested Deeney from distance but his shot was straight at the Robins stopper on seven minutes, the Robins keeper again having to block when a parrying a powerful effort six minutes later.
Dynamo were creating the better openings and Arlott-John was again denied by Deeney low down on 22 minutes, while Ilkeston’s Chris O’Grady shot weakly at the keeper from just outside the area on 27.
Kalern Thomas then saw an effort deflected just wide after finding space in the penalty area, then Dan Bradley somehow turned a Ward cross wide when unmarked a few yards out and half-time arrived with the game goalless.
Ilkeston started the second-half well and one of many subs, Remaye Campbell, flicked the ball just wide with a diving header on 54 minutes, then headed just over from an Alex Troke cross moments later.
Shepshed were still a threat and saw a couple of long range efforts go close amid a plethora of changes to their side, before Montel Gibson was sent clear for the Robins on 72 but saw his effort parried away by keeper Brandon Ganley.
Ilkeston kept pushing and Ganley pushed away a Campbell shot on 77 minutes, Jack Thomas next to see a chance come his way but only able to head Ben O’Hanlon’s cross over the top.
Ganley was having a fine game and denied Campbell once more with six minutes left when he was found by Ollie Brown-Hill’s knock down but the Dynamo keeper blocked at point blank range.
Thomas was then denied by another save, this time low down from a first-time shot, Troke next to see a shot blocked by a defender three yards out after being found by Charlie Wakefield.
Thomas volleyed just wide as the game entered its final minute, that the last chance the Robins would have to win a game from which they will feel they might have deserved a positive result.
Ilkeston: Deeney (Bukowski 46), Thomas (Trialist 46), 3 O’Hanlon (Bennett 46), Bradley (Bird 65), Turner (O’Hanlon 65), Fenton (Willock 46), Ward (Thomas 46), Bird (Brown-Hill 46), O’Grady (Campbell 46), Gibson (Wakefield 76), Wakefield (Troke 46)
Report by Mark Duffy