It's Tough Up North
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

11th November 2001

Whilst the hierarchy of the FA tucked into their prawn sandwiches at Old Trafford, the grass roots of football sampled the local faggots here at the New Manor ground, Ilkeston. 

A hardy crowd of 546 shunned the delights of an England match in front of the fire and braved the elements to be entertained by two attacking sides that played good, honest, enterprising football.

Ilkeston's main sponsor is a Toyota car dealer and judging by the state of the playing surface he test-drives the off road vehicles on the pitch. The Terras kicked off with Ryan Cross missing from the line up, Ilkeston forced the pace in the opening minutes and Danny Potter was called upon to pluck a Jason Hemmings free kick out of the air after two minutes.

The visitors got into their stride; using both flanks the stretched Ilkeston defence struggled to contain a Weymouth side that stroked the ball around on the uneven surface. On eleven minutes Mark Rawlinson battled with Matt McKenzie on the right flank, dispossessed him and sent in a cracking shoulder height cross that Laws met full on as the ball buried itself into the back of the net, one down, five to go, or so I thought.

Ilkeston looked dangerous on the break as Weymouth forced them to play deep with constant pressure, Laws was bundled over on the edge of the penalty area with eighteen minutes gone, although sporting a some nice stud marks the homer of a ref waved play on.

Laws was in the thick of it three minutes later when an Ian Hutchinson effort was deflected for a corner, the ref however awarded a goal kick and after protestation from the Weymouth goal machine Mr Edwards put his name in the book.

Laws was everywhere and within a minute had put Phillips clean through, only the heroics of home keeper Stuart Ford diving at the big number 11's feet stopped goal number 2.

Matthew Hale relishing the chance to play along side Hutchinson made a great run on the left flank on 25 minutes his crisp cross was cut out by Ford with Laws and Phillips queuing up for the header. Out on the right flank Rawlinson put Laws through; his shot was also saved by the glove man.

Ilkeston equalised on the half hour, Tony Hemmings cross sailed through a mass of Weymouth legs to Glen Kirkwood and his powerful shot at the far post whizzed past the stranded Potter.

Michael Dean, imposed himself on the game at the centre of midfield; picking out Rawlinson with one of his accurate passes, Rawlinson saw the keeper off his line and tried to chip him, Ford back peddled and somehow caught the ball on the line whilst standing in the back of the net.

The last action of the half witnessed "the shed" getting down well to stop a Kirkwood effort.

Ilkeston's John Knapper was booked for a foul on Hutchinson from the re start, the Vidal Sassoon pin up turned his man and was looking goal wards when crudely hacked down from behind, Fred Davies became very animated first with the ref and then with the Ilkeston bench.

The home side had the better of the next fifteen minutes with David Holmes sending his shot just over the bar. Weymouth had another let off as Glen Kirkwood's close range header was cleared off the line by Hale, but Ilkeston were not to be denied for much longer, a weak back header by Alex Browne left Potter in no man's land, unable to reach the ball on the edge of his area, his vain attempt to clear the waist high ball whilst under close scrutiny failed when Tony Hemmings bundled him over and slotted the ball home.

Weymouth went all out for the equaliser, numerous raids saw the final ball, blocked or miss hit as no one seemed to be prepared to take the initiative and shoot, always' looking for someone else to pass to.

Captain Marvel stepped forward to bring Weymouth their much-deserved equaliser, receiving the ball in front of goal but a good thirty yards out. Browne made a crab like run into the six yard box (beating most of the Ilkeston side at least twice) unleashing his shot the ball took a deflection off the foot of a defender and, with Ford committed to the dive, the ball looped over his head and into the back of the net (recommend you watch the video footage).

Weymouth piled on the pressure; Rowbotham replaced Laws (who was suffering from a stiffening hamstring) and joined the attack. The terrier like Hale beat two players out on the left flank and sent across a perfect ball to the awaiting Phillips at the far post, Lee hit the ball first time, straight across the face of goal and out for a throw in.

With time running down (and most Terras fans aware of Crawley's draw earlier in the day, a win would take Weymouth back to top spot.) the assault on Ilkeston's goal was unrelenting; a brilliant move saw Hale find Robinson, Robinson beat one player, looked up and flicked the ball to the feet of Rowbo, he scuffed his shot and sent the ball heavenwards. Minutes later another Hale cross was met by Rowbo who headed the ball off the head of Phillips but his effort hit the base of the upright. Robinson crossed from the right flank, again the ball was met by Rowbo and again he skied his effort from 8 yards.