Report: Warrington Town 1-0 Ilkeston Town

Warrington Town earned their first win of the season thanks to Enock Lusiama’s winner.

Lusiama crashed home in the 83rd minute for a much-needed and deserved victory for the Yellows to end a 13-league game winless run.

It could have been two late on too, substitute Dontai Gabidon beating his man, rounding the ‘keeper and agonisingly hitting the post, but it didn’t matter as Ilkeston offered little threat in reverse in the closing stages.

Lusiama and hard-working strike partner Kallan Murphy led from the front in an open game that could have seen a goal inside three minutes, when Harvey Kirby-Moore was released through on goal and slid the ball just wide of debutant goalkeeper Liam Isherwood’s right-hand post.

Isherwood, who had missed the three previous games through concussion protocol, was largely a bystander, but he did save tidily low to deny the lively Rooney Youmbi.

The Yellows were restricted to long-range efforts from Lusiama and David Morgan, making his first start for the club.

The second half was broken up constantly by the referee’s whistle, with no fewer than eight yellow cards issued.

Again, chances were restricted to long-range, Jay Harris driving through midfield and firing over, before Lusiama whistled a 35-yarder wide of the post.

But it was the hosts making all the attacking movement as Ilkeston sat in, and eventually they got a reward for their efforts.

Murphy latched onto a through ball and, despite a superb tackle by the excellent Sam Parker, the ball fell to Lusiama, who touched it on and then lashed a shot into the top corner.

There was an anxious moment a minute later that saw Patrick Gamble, on his home debut, put in a crucial block in the goalmouth, but other than that, the Yellows kept Ilkeston comfortably at bay.

Gabidon could have spared eight anxious injury-time minutes with his self-created chance, which hit the outside of the post, but the home crowd went home happy.

Warrington Town: Isherwood, Melhado, Doyle, Bourne, Gamble, Morgan (Brazier), Harris, Daly (Bennett), Lusiama (Gabidon), Murphy, Waters. Unused subs: Roper, Lloyd.

Ilkeston Town: Wharton, Minkley (Sulkowski), Daniel, Parker, Marshall, Dixon, Brandy (Whyle), Essien, Fox (Stevens), Kirby-Moore (Walker), Youmbi. Unused subs: Thornhill.

Post-match reaction