Match preview Vs Ilkeston Town    FA Trophy 2nd rd

After the fiasco at Coventry last week the Harriers fans will be hoping for a more positive attempt in this weeks cup game.  Ok, we didn't have that much of a chance at reaching Wembley in the FA Cup but we do have a very good chance in the Trophy and so we should at least turn up at Ilkeston.

We last played at the Unibond Premier side in 1995 in the Trophy but this was in the third round of the Cup.  On that occasion the original tie was at Ilkeston and ended in two goals apiece but the game was marred by thuggish behaviour by a small section of the home support when they threw bricks and rubble in the direction of the Harriers followers.

The replay was at Aggborough three days later and we ran out 2-1 winners and no after game trouble.  In the next round we beat Altrincham 5-0 and then went on to arrive at Wembley for ultimate defeat against Woking.

If ever an omen is needed for the game tomorrow then that could be it.

We will be without Martin Riley for this game after he suffered a reaction to the groin injury that he had before the Coventry game and had to hobble off late on in the game.  Luke Jones will probably reclaim the position that he lost following the Kings Lynn game back in October.

Now that the January transfer window has arrived Mark Yates is hopefully looking for new additions to the squad.  The first of these was Lee Baker who has now signed for us on a permanent basis from West Brom and will remain with us for a further eighteen months.

Ilkeston have also been busy but the window doesn't affect them so players have been coming and going regularly from the New Manor Ground.  The most recent additions have been defender David Haggerty and striker Mark Newsham from Rotherham Utd with Louis Briscoe and Scott Garner being released to join Mansfield Town.

Ilkeston have also just lost their manager, David Holdsworth, to Mansfield and the club are now managed by the partnership of Paul Hurst and Rob Scott.

A well known face should be present for the game because Lee Thompson (above) now plays for them after being a favourite here.  He left us in May 2006 and joined Worksop Town before later re-joining Boston Utd in July 2007.

The winners of this game will play the winners of the Oxford Utd v York City game on January 31st at home.




Harriers from:
Bartlett, Coleman, Baker, Bignot, Riley, Lowe, Ferrell, Creighton, Bowler, Jones, Knights, Foley, McDermott, Bennett, Hayward, Brittain, Penn, Barnes-Homer, Smikle, Richards, Moore, McGrath.

Ilkeston from:
Haystead, Adamson, Thompson, Murphy, Wild, Haggerty, Istead, Scott, Hurst, Pringle, Duncum, Church, Morgan-Smith, Howell, Douglas, Cahill, Green, Newsham, Gordon.

Links to Ilkeston Town websites here
Directions to Ilkeston here
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