Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 0 ILKESTON TOWN

Blue Square North – Saturday 8th August 2009

Report by Gary Owen

Two second half strikes from Alex Brown and Rob Lloyd ensured Dave Pace's men got off to an ideal start to this season's campaign, although the first half was a rather dour affair with neither side looking particularly impressive.

Newly promoted Town were keen to impress and had a good chance to open the scoring early on, but former Hucknall striker Gary Ricketts could only turn his shot towards Craig Mawson from a corner. Tony Gray did likewise at the other end, before the lively Samuel Duncum almost robbed Mawson of a loose ball.

Gray was unlucky for the hosts when his shot found the side netting from Steve Beck's cut-back, and Liam Brownhill recorded a shot on target, but it was no trouble for David Bevan in the Town goal.

After the break, Simon Yeo was off target with two headers from Alex Meechan crosses, the second of which looked a certain goal, but the Bloods striker was guilty of heading wide when unmarked from 6 yards.

Meechan was also just off target before Droylsden's pressure finally told. Alex Brown arrived late in the box to convert a flowing move involving Meechan and Gray to give Bevan no chance.

Meechan should have made it 2-0 when he broke clean through, with Town claiming for offside, before shooting wastefully high, and then Beck fired just wide from 25 yards with Bevan at full stretch.

Ilkeston threatened through David Graham, but he shot too high when under pressure from Liam Brownhill, and Graham again went close, this time shooting just wide when an Ilkeston free kick fell at his feet in the box.

Home substitute Rob Lloyd made the points safe with virtually his first touch, converting from close range after Gray's shot had been charged down.

Thomas Bonner forced a late save from Mawson, and a dipping effort from Gray just cleared the bar at the other end.

Dave Pace could ask for little more than three points and a clean sheet on the opening day, before his team hit the road for two away fixtures at Hinckley United (midweek) and Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

TEAMS

Droylsden:

Mawson, Woodyatt, Brownhill, Ruffer, Cryan, Williams (Lloyd, 81') Brown A., Gray, Yeo, Meechan (Brown P., 84').

Subs not used: Roche, Byron, Howarth

Ilkeston Town:

Bevan, Holmes, Bonner, Hulmes, O'Loughlin, Murphy, Green (Douglas, 74'), Dempsey, Ricketts, Morgan-Smith (Graham, 60'), Duncum.

Subs not used: Waterfall, Burge, White.

SCORERS:

Droylsden - Alex Brown (62') Rob Lloyd (85')

REFEREE: Mr. P. A. Brabin (Bolton)

ATTENDANCE: 420