Saturday 20th April 2024 | Northern Premier League
Ilkeston Town 3 Morpeth Town 2
Goals from Tom Marshall, Jonathan Wafula and Tom Cursons gave Ilkeston a fifth win on the bounce in their final home game of the season but a late Morpeth goal by Jack Foalle made it a nervy finish.
The match started slowly and it took 20 minutes before the game came to life with former Ilkeston keeper Dan Lowson making the first of several outstanding saves. His reflex save from Callum Minkley’s header was quickly followed by skipper Jeff Henderson’s clearance off the goal line. But a goal was soon to come when Tom Marshall headed in from Declan Eratt-Thompson’s corner on 23 minutes. The lead didn’t last long and Morpeth equalised from a Dan Barlow free kick which took a massive defection which left Matt Yates stranded. There were appeals for an Ilkeston penalty when Cursons appeared to be tripped inside the Morpeth penalty area but a free kick on the edge of the area was the outcome. Just before half time Morpeth had their best spell and were close to taking the lead when Andrew Johnson’s close range shot was deflected just wide.
Ilkeston were out of the blocks quickly for the second half. Connor Dixon’s shot was saved then Wafula’s follow up was deflected wide. Cursons was then through with Lowson to beat but the keeper blocked his effort. Cursons had another chance when found by James Perch but again Lowson denied him. A goal had to come and it was Wafula who blasted past Lowson to restore Ilkeston’s lead following a corner. Morpeth were denied an equaliser shortly afterwards when a Foalle header was adjudged to be offside. The best goal of the game came on 62 minutes when Connor Dixon’s brilliant surging run and cross was hammered home by Cursons to make it 3-1. Ilkeston were then comfortably in control and Lowson kept Morpeth in the game with outstanding saves first from L’Varn Brandy and then from Cursons. The mood changed though on 78 minutes when the visitors reduced the arrears through Foalie’s strike that went in off the post. The same player had another chance for Morpeth but blazed his effort over the bar before Eratt-Thompson almost made the game safe for Ilkeston.