Blyth Spartans v Ilkeston Town | Saturday, 22 February 2025 - 15:00 | League

Blyth Spartans earned a hard-fought point against play off hopefuls Ilkeston Town at Croft Park on Saturday afternoon.

Spartans took the lead in the 23rd minute through Nicky Deverdics' penalty before Jono Wafula equalised for the visitors after the break.

Michael Connor and Nathan Haslam made two changes to the side that were beaten 5-1 away to Gainsborough a week ago.

Captain Deverdics and goalkeeper Matthew Bancroft both came into the starting XI.

The visitors had the ball in the net after five minutes, but the assistant referee had his flag up for offside.

The visitors continued to dominate the ball in the opening stages and Spartans keeper Matthew Bancroft had to deny McKeal Abdullah after the Ilkeston striker evaded the offside flag.

Spartans were awarded a penalty midway through the first half when Dean Briggs went down inside the area.

Spartans skipper Deverdics stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The home side should have doubled their lead eight minutes later when JJ Hooper went through on goal, but his effort rolled agonisingly wide.

Hooper had another opportunity in the 36th minute when he met Briggs' cross from the left, but he couldn't generate enough power with the header to trouble Matt Yates in the visiting goal.

Half time: Blyth Spartans 1-0 Ilkeston Town

The visitors made four changes to begin the second half.

One of those substitutes levelled the score in the 56th minute. Wafula got to the ball ahead of Bancroft and squeezed it under the Spartans keeper.

Hooper nearly pounced on the end of a loose back pass, but the Ilkeston keeper got there ahead of the Spartans striker.

The visitors continued to look for a winner and had a two-on-one situation in the 77th minute but their forward pass was deemed to be offside by the linesman.

Spartans had a great chance of their own to win the game in the 87th minute when Joel Holvey's volley from inside the area had to be parried away by Yates.

Bancroft denied the visitors a winner in the 90th minute with a save down to his right at his near post.

Full time: Blyth Spartans 1-1 Ilkeston Town

Blyth Spartans - Matthew Bancroft, Joe Oliver, Daniel Myers, Shay Richardson, Matthew Ridley, Paddy Almond, Cyril Giraud, Dean Briggs (Harry Gardiner 77'), JJ Hooper, Joel Holvey, Nicky Deverdics

Subs not used - Matthew Griggs, Lucas Reed, Leon Burke, Joe Dixon

Goals - Nicky Deverdics (23' Pen)

Yellow cards - Shay Richardson, JJ Hooper

Ilkeston Town - Matt Yates, Kornell McDonald, Sam Parker, Lindon Meikle (Jamie Walker 45'), Tom Marshall, Callum Minckley (Jono Wafula 45'), Declan Erratt-Thompson (Darien Wauchope 45'), Connor Dixon, Alex Hardwick (Harvey Kirby-Moore 45'), McKeal Abdullah (Jordan Stevens 75'), Colin Daniel

Goals - Jono Wafula (56')

Yellow cards - Lindon Miekle, Tom Marshall, Connor Dixon, McKeal Abdullah

Attendance 569

Referee Alex Clark

Assistant referees Stephen Clifford and David Mitchell