Recap
A game that lacked quality throughout will be filed under the ‘instantly forgettable’ category, although Workington would have accepted that had there been some tangible reward at the end.
Instead, it was another pointless trip and that, along with results elsewhere, left Reds uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
Ilkeston won’t be too bothered about the entertainment value because they got the job done to maintain their push for the play-offs, scoring the match-winner in the sixty-eighth minute.
Workington enjoyed their best spell of the game at the start of the second half but, once the Derbyshire side got their noses in front, there was that all too familiar look of inevitability about the outcome.
Manager Mark Fell was again short on numbers with few options on an inexperienced bench. The injured Josh Galloway was named on the team sheet but clearly not fit for purpose.
Ilkeston landed the first shot on target after twelve minutes but Tom Marshall’s strike from distance was pushed away to safety by Alex Mitchell’s dive to his left. The hosts did get the ball in the net shortly after but the assistant referee had already flagged for an offside offence.
Connor Dixon was gifted a free header inside the area following Matty Clarke’s poor clearance but, thankfully, the Town midfielder headed wide.
Reds’ chances were few and far between and Kai Nugent missed the target with his two opportunities and Ruben Grewal saw a deflected shot comfortably caught by Matthew Yates.
Mitchell was forced into action again soon after the restart, thwarting L’Varn Brandy with an important stop.
Reds, playing in blue, then enjoyed a purple patch and dominated for a while. They were getting forward more frequently and, unlike the first half, causing Town problems.
Skipper, David Symington, went very close to giving the Cumbrians the lead on two occasions. Steven Rigg dispossessed Marshall and squared the ball to Symington but Yates made the save of the match to deny the latter.
A Nugent free kick was blocked by a brave Ilkeston wall and Symington then saw a wonderful strike from outside the area rattle Yates’ crossbar before the ball was scrambled to safety.
That might have been the turning point because Reds didn’t seriously threaten thereafter and the home side finished the stronger.
McKeal Abdullah started and finished one move but, from close, range blasted his shot over the bar then the Pakistan international was denied a debut goal by two wonderful goal line clearances from Steven Swinglehurst.
In between those two passages of defensive heroism, Ilkeston netted what proved to be the decider. Substitute Alex Hardwick seemed to have time and space and his shot on the turn found a way past Mitchell and into the net.
Workington had never failed to score in six previous visits to the Manor Ground but there wasn’t even the hint of a potential equaliser, providing plenty of food for thought for management on the long journey home.
Ilkeston Town: Yates, McDonald, Parker, Dixon (Eratt-Thompson, 74) Marshall, Minkley, Stevens (Hardwick, 63), Daniel (Wauchope, 74), Abdullah, Brandy (Wafula, 63), Walker. Substitute – Wilkinson (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Clarke (Abrahart, 86), Nugent, Little (McDonough, 86), Swinglehurst, Ambrose, Symington, Grewal, Rigg, Jamie Allen, Stephenson. Substitutes – Christian, Fulton, Galloway (not used).
Referee: Edgar Brown, Quorn
Bookings: Walker (Ilkeston Town), Symington (Workington)
Attendance: 564