Wilson 'concerned' by growing injury list
Saturday 4 August
Injury-problems are stacking up for Ilkeston FC after four players limped out of the action in this afternoon's 2-2 draw at Sheffield FC.
Manager Kevin Wilson was pleased enough with the way his players controlled the game for 70 minutes and established a comfortable 2-0 lead.
And although a succession of changes saw them lose their momentum and concede two goals, it was the injury problems that were of more concern to Wilson with the start of the new League campaign just two weeks away.
He said: "Overall I was pleased enough with the way we approached things for the first 70 minutes and we made enough chances to have been out of sight by that point.
"But I have to admit that the injury problems are concerning me and I won't be taking any chances in terms of the personnel at Hucknall on Tuesday. We cannot afford to lose any more key players."
Ryan Wilson, Joe Maguire, Daryll Thomas and Gary Ricketts are the latest casualties and although new striker Jamie Clarke played the first 45 minutes, he is clearly some way from full fitness.
Added the manager: "It's too early to say how serious the injuries are but I don't like having injuries of any sort so close to the start of the season because they get in the way of what we need to do."
The Robins, who had former Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Martin making a trial appearance in goal, went in front on 15 minutes when Thomas blocked a clearance from the Sheffield FC 'keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
Maguire's penalty miss was one of a number of clear-cut opportunities that the Robins had to stretch their lead and when Will McCall eventually did so with a neat shot on the turn, it seemed we were on their way to a comfortable win.
But Sheffield FC hit back to claim a share of the spoils and although our next action is at Hucknall on Tuesday evening, Wilson is looking beyond that to next Friday's trip to Mickleover as a key date in the build-up to the new season.
