> 1.1.2008

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Despite taking the lead in the first half, the Pitmen will feel pretty happy with their day's work as they earned a good point against a classy-looking Marine side in this New Year's Day fixture. There was a real surprise for supporters as they came through the turnstiles, as they were greeted with the sight of former Hednesford captain Chris 'Chalky' White warming up with the Hednesford players, having rejoined the Pitmen following a spell at Lincoln United. There was no Ross Dyer, due to the neck injury he picked up in the defeat at Worksop

Despite starting confidently, the Pitmen found themselves soon pushed back by a well-organised and dangerous Marine side. With the visitors using the wide areas well, it seemed as though they would create the better chances through their good interplay

However, it was the Pitmen who took an eighteenth minute lead, with on-loan Chris Hanna snatching his second goal in three games. Alan Nagington's persistence down the right saw him beat two players, before pulling the ball back to Hanna, who confidently slotted home from twelve yards out

Marine continued to play their passing game, and the Pitmen's defence was starting to creak under the pressure. Chad Sheppard, filling in at right back, was struggling to contain his man, and it came as little surprise that the chances started to build up. Firstly, Kevin Towey tested Rene Gilmartin with a drive, followed by a save at the feet of Paul Woolcott

At the other end, the Pitmen were still creating openings, with skipper Paul Robinson heading wide of goal from David Brown's cross

Hanna should have extended the Pitmen's lead as the game headed towards half time, but found Marine keeper Andy Banks in the way of his effort

Right at the end of the first half, the hosts should have been celebrating a second goal when Anthony Maguire rifled in a shot that was deflected away from goal - this after good work from the winger saw him beat three Marine players to make the space

The first fifteen minutes of the second half pretty much summed up the Pitmen's season to date; two excellent opportunities wasted, followed by a sucker punch at the other end

Seven minutes after the restart, Hanna somehow hit the bar with a header off Maguire's free kick. In the melee that ensued, David Brown's ball back in was missed by a number of players, including Ben Brown, as Marine hacked the ball away from danger

Wayne Dyer was also guilty of wasting a great chance, when his shot flew over the bar from just a few yards out after being set up by Nagington

They came to rue those missed chances, as Marine equalised with a slick move on the hour mark. Peter Cumiskey's run was not checked by the Hednesford defence, allowing him to slip theball through to Darren Brookfield, who confidently fired past the onrushing Gilmartin

Marine had their tails up, and pushed up looking for a winner. Towey had two good chances that flew wide of goal in quick succession, before Freddie Potter's run towards the area was halted by Robinson with twelve minutes left. After receiving a yellow card for the foul, Robinson then picked up a second yellow a minute later after falling on the ball on the edge of the area

Despite being down to ten men, the Pitmen gave as good as they got in the final minutes, creating chances until the final whistle. Banks saved well from substitute Mario Pedro's run and shot, before Marine had a great chance through substitute Shaun Tuck, who pulled his effort wide of goal

All in all, a fair result for both sides, who committed men forward in search of a winner but could not find the killer touch  cds

Ilkeston Town (A) ULC 

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