SOUTH NORMANTON UPSET THE ODDS

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 3 ILKESTON TOWN 0
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ LEES LANE
26 DECEMBER 2018 --- 3PM

LEFT LEG IN RIGHT LEG IN HANDS IN THE AIR STH NORMANTON V ILKESTON TOWN

South Normanton upset the league leaders Ilkeston Town's promotion bandwagon and although the wheels have not come off yet they look in need of re-alignment after this shock victory for the Shiners who before the start of play were sitting second from the bottom of the MFL.
Todays journey must give thanks to bus company Trent Barton who again decided to adopt a Sunday service on this Bank Holiday allowing the option to take in this mouth watering encounter and after a very convenient connection in nearby Alfreton arrival at The Common at around 1pm provided the first treat of the day.
The large petrol station, come mini market, had seen the addition of a new Greggs so it would have been rude not to sample a festive bake and a coffee for the short walk into the village centre, second course was completed at the Coop, the countrywide tour of the caring sharing goes on, with a hoppers delight.

A SAUSAGE ROLL AS BIG AS THE COOP

With a murky dark afternoon ahead pictures I'm afraid were at a premium but arrival with just an hour to kick off would allow time to take in the atmosphere, it turned out to be an official attendance of 235 one that before arrival I would have thought would have been nearer the 500 mark.  Lees Lane has been covered many times but needless to say its a more than adequate ground for this step of football and with a bar and café its well kitted out for any visitor.
Lee Fowler would take charge of his second game for Ilkeston today following his debut goal less draw at Coventry United and following the previous loss 4-0 at home to Coventry Sphinx the club although fairly comfortable at the top, at present, needed to arrest the blip in results.  Whereas South Normanton were in need of match practice after the Shiners last two games were postponed however recent improvements have suggested with the games in hand they may be able to pull away from their current precarious position.
The game started at a ferocious pace and there was a shock as early as the ninth minute when the home side took the lead John King fired home after the ball was flying around the Ilkeston box after Harry Wakefield had struck the bar in the build up.  There followed a bordering on serious problem that continued for most of the half as Ilkeston dissented and showed abuse towards the match officials over the decision to allow the goal and further appeals.  A few Ilkeston fans I spoke to were concerned by the players constant haranguing of the officials and had commented that former manager Steve Chettle would never have allowed this to happen and it did seem to do them no favours for a team that clearly has footballing talent. 
Much of the footballing side of the game today was not on show from both sides as sheer determination, effort and a ball that probably only touched the floor five times in the first half were to the fore.  Liam Mitchell in the visitors goal was on alert when he pulled off an excellent save from Dylan Garnett and the from the corner a superb point blank save from Wakefield denied South Normanton just before the break.

REFEREE CLEMENTS HAS A QUICK CATCH UP WITH STRZYZESWKI

Ilkeston started the second period as much of it continued camped in the home sides half, would the host tire was surely the question but they were producing little of danger and the impressive Marc Strzyzewski was repelling all attacks alongside his team mates determined efforts.  So it paid off when South Normanton doubled their lead on 70 minutes Garnett firing home at the back post after King had put in a low cross off the left.
Still you awaited the Ilson response and if a goal came you guessed they would overpower the Athletic defence but it never did and except for an effort from Chris Shaw it was looking increasingly comfortable for the home side.
With two minutes of the ninety remaining a free kick to Normanton on the right hand side looked to all intents and purposes to be going towards the corner flag to hold up the time but Garnett got a sniff of goal paced past the defender and lashed home the goal to add insult to injury for Ilkeston and make it 3-0.
The closing stages saw Jamie Walker put in a superb header for the visitors but Curtis Hall produced an excellent save to deny Ilkeston a consolation goal.
A question for each side for South Normanton if you can play with this tempo and determination against the league leaders there really should be no reason why you would be in the relegation zone and for Ilkeston how will you respond to this poor sequence of results for surely you have not become a bad team overnight.