Former player finds the target to sink Shepshed
SHEPSHED DYNAMO 0 ILKESTON TOWN 1
SHEPSHED Dynamo’s unbeaten December came to an end as they lost 1-0 to Pitching in Northern Premier League Midlands Division leaders Ilkeston Town.
In front of an excellent crowd of 615 former Dynamo player Alex Trokes header on the stroke of half time kept the league leaders top and despite constant pressure from Shepshed in the second half they were unable to beat Ross Durant in the Town goal to gain the point they deserved.
On a heavy Dovecote surface Ilkeston shaded the first half with Troke firing wide on two minutes.
Durrant then saved from Leke Shodunke on eight minutes, Shepshed’s first chance of the game.
Billy Bennet then fired wide on 11 minutes and after a scramble in the Dynamo defensive area Shodunke broke but Durrant saved on 12 minutes.
Ilkeston began to take control of the game with James Reid feeding Town’s leading scorer Zak Goodson on 19 minutes with James Sneddon blocking his effort.
On 24 minutes Wakefield fed a neat ball through to Goodson with the advancing Brandon Ganley making the save.
Ilkeston thought they had taken the lead on 29 minutes but Goodson was ruled offside.
Dynamo’s best chance of the half came on 32 minutes but Matt Melbourne was unable to keep his shot down, three minutes later he was called in to defensive duty clearing off the line.
As it looked like it was going to be a level half Troke was left free to head home at the far post. Literally straight after the referee blew for half time to give the visitors the lead at the break.
The first chance of the second half fell to Ilkeston but Goodson’s cross was cleared on 48 minutes.
Shepshed looked more confident in the second half and pressed for an equaliser.
Reece Morris’s effort flashing across the box on 50 minutes and a minute later Durrant was alert to deny Massiah McDonald.
Ilkeston came back at Dynamo with Wakefield firing into Ganley on 62 minutes and five minutes later Town went close again.
Dynamo were looking dangerous out wide as Morris fired across the box on 69 minutes. McDonald’s effort was blocked on 74 minutes and John King fired over the rebound.
Jadahn Harper’s cross was met by the head of Betts but it failed to trouble Durrant on 75 minutes.
McDonald cutting in from the right had his effort saved by Durrant on 77 minutes and a minute later King fired into Durrant.
As the half petered out Ilkeston held on to the three points keeping them top of the table.
Despite defeat Shepshed were denied a deserved point from the game. But they can take into 2022 an excellent run of results in December as they remain 11th in the league.