Match Report
A brace from Carlos Roca helped FC United to their fourth game without defeat as they saw off high flying Ilkeston Town by a score of 3-1 on a cold and wet evening at Gigg Lane.
The win was United’s third in four games since the defeat to Kendal and at times during the game it looked like it was the Reds who were the higher placed team of the two.
Ilkeston had been going well this season under the guidance of former Bolton centre half and twin brother of Dean, David Holdsworth, but were undone by a resilient FC United team this evening.
The game began with a good tempo, and the ball zipped around the Gigg Lane pitch with United looking to come forward and strike while the iron was hot.
Not for the first time this season the visitors took some ‘bully boy’ tactics onto the pitch when trying to deal with the pace of Jerome Wright, and the pacy winger was subject to several strong challenges early; a theme which carried on for much of the game.
But credit to Wright he didn’t let the fact he was getting seven shades kicked out of him bother his performance and attacked well when he had the ball.
The opening goal came from a Wright run on the left, and he found Kyle Wilson on the edge of the box who put the ball on his right foot and curled into the bottom corner to give United the lead after only fourteen minutes.
The Reds held good possession for large parts of the first half, but failed to capitalise on this in the final third and an inability to do so always meant the visitors were only one goal from getting back into the game despite being on the back foot for much of the opening forty-five minutes.
Unsurprisingly, United were punished with a n equaliser just five minutes before the break after a long range free kick from Steve Istead was spilled by Sam Ashton, and in came Ilkeston defender Scott Garner to level things up.
The teams took to the field for the second half with Untied still looking the better of the two teams, and the better bet for the team to take the lead again.
After only ten minutes United were rewarded when Carlos Roca managed to latch onto Alex Skidmore’s cross from the deep left and put the ball home, to give United a goal advantage once more.
The visitors came straight on the attack and almost replied instantaneously but were denied by Sam Ashton who saved acrobatically before pushing the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.
The visitors were always coming forward looking for an equaliser, but nothing more than half chances here or there were created and United always looked good value attacking on the counter attack with the pace of players like Wright and Adam Carden bombing down both flanks.
Danny Warrender went close to getting his first goal for the club as his effort from 25 yards out went just over in the last ten minutes, but the United faithful wouldn’t wait long for the goal that sealed the victory.
After another good period of pressure the visiting defence seemed unsure of what to do with the ball and left Roca in behind, who knew exactly what to do and coolly put the ball away for his second and United’s third.
Another good performance and a great victory against a team who came into the game in fourth position in the league. Margy’s men now lie in 9th position and will be looking to carry on their good form this Saturday as they meet Worksop Town; who drew 1-1 this evening with Boston, in the second qualifying round of the Carlsberg FA Trophy this Saturday.
Report by Craig Phillips.
Match Report
A brace from Carlos Roca helped FC United to their fourth game without defeat as they saw off high flying Ilkeston Town by a score of 3-1 on a cold and wet evening at Gigg Lane.
The win was United’s third in four games since the defeat to Kendal and at times during the game it looked like it was the Reds who were the higher placed team of the two.
Ilkeston had been going well this season under the guidance of former Bolton centre half and twin brother of Dean, David Holdsworth, but were undone by a resilient FC United team this evening.
The game began with a good tempo, and the ball zipped around the Gigg Lane pitch with United looking to come forward and strike while the iron was hot.
Not for the first time this season the visitors took some ‘bully boy’ tactics onto the pitch when trying to deal with the pace of Jerome Wright, and the pacy winger was subject to several strong challenges early; a theme which carried on for much of the game.
But credit to Wright he didn’t let the fact he was getting seven shades kicked out of him bother his performance and attacked well when he had the ball.
The opening goal came from a Wright run on the left, and he found Kyle Wilson on the edge of the box who put the ball on his right foot and curled into the bottom corner to give United the lead after only fourteen minutes.
The Reds held good possession for large parts of the first half, but failed to capitalise on this in the final third and an inability to do so always meant the visitors were only one goal from getting back into the game despite being on the back foot for much of the opening forty-five minutes.
Unsurprisingly, United were punished with a n equaliser just five minutes before the break after a long range free kick from Steve Istead was spilled by Sam Ashton, and in came Ilkeston defender Scott Garner to level things up.
The teams took to the field for the second half with Untied still looking the better of the two teams, and the better bet for the team to take the lead again.
After only ten minutes United were rewarded when Carlos Roca managed to latch onto Alex Skidmore’s cross from the deep left and put the ball home, to give United a goal advantage once more.
The visitors came straight on the attack and almost replied instantaneously but were denied by Sam Ashton who saved acrobatically before pushing the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.
The visitors were always coming forward looking for an equaliser, but nothing more than half chances here or there were created and United always looked good value attacking on the counter attack with the pace of players like Wright and Adam Carden bombing down both flanks.
Danny Warrender went close to getting his first goal for the club as his effort from 25 yards out went just over in the last ten minutes, but the United faithful wouldn’t wait long for the goal that sealed the victory.
After another good period of pressure the visiting defence seemed unsure of what to do with the ball and left Roca in behind, who knew exactly what to do and coolly put the ball away for his second and United’s third.
Another good performance and a great victory against a team who came into the game in fourth position in the league. Margy’s men now lie in 9th position and will be looking to carry on their good form this Saturday as they meet Worksop Town; who drew 1-1 this evening with Boston, in the second qualifying round of the Carlsberg FA Trophy this Saturday.
Report by Craig Phillips.
