SPENNYMOOR TOWN V ILKESTON

Northern Premier League Premier Division 

An unconventional Thursday night game at the Brewery Field; but the sunny day has turned into a chilly evening on which to check Spennymoor’s progress to the play-offs. Since our last visit that progress has been good with two away wins and a home draw that have put them second in the table. Their six remaining games are against teams in the bottom half of the table, including each of the bottom four; that group includes Ilkeston whose chances of avoiding relegation are purely mathematical. So a home win should be a formality – but there is no such thing in football.

A pattern of attack and defence soon emerges as Spennymoor keep possession and probe, albeit rather gently. However Ilkeston’s front two look pacey and when a headed back pass towards Lowson in the home goal is a bit short, Dwyer latches on to it and tries a lob; it turns out to be a better back pass than the defender’s effort.

More of the same sees Spennymoor huff and puff with little penetration; Griffiths as usual swings balls in from the right, but nothing the Ilkeston defence can’t handle. It is twenty-five minutes before a shot in anger is struck and then Taylor’s drive is well wide. It is nearly half time before Ilkeston keeper Hannis has to intervene meaningfully, fielding a shot from Johnson hit straight at him. It has not been all one way though, with sporadic Ilkeston breaks keeping the home defence honest.

Though the first half hasn’t looked like second top versus second bottom, the second half will have Spennymoor playing downhill, which normally piles the pressure on the visitors. And so it goes; from one of many crosses Taylor rises high to power a downward header. Hannis parries well at the foot of his post but Dowson is on hand to pounce and force the loose ball over the line.

Some relief for the home crowd, but the goal also releases Ilkeston, who now look to attack more constructively, and the game develops a bit more ebb and flow. That in turn gives Spennymoor some more space and with ten minutes to go Dowson exchanges a slick one-two on the edge of the box with Armstrong (on for Taylor) and slots the ball under the keeper and into the net.

That looks like game over, and Ilkeston visibly slump. Twice Spennymoor players break clear but fluff chances to increase the lead. However in the last of the added minutes it is Dowson’s turn to race through and, with his hat-trick at stake, makes no mistake in making it three nil.

The score line is a little unfair on Ilkeston who made a game of it until the final few minutes. So no formality, but a solid win that keeps not only the play-offs on target but also increase the chances of a home game within them.