Added January 28th 2006 -

Ilford 2 - 2 Rothwell Town

Rothwell stretched their unbeaten run to 5 games with an away draw against Ilford on Saturday, which also means that they are still undefeated in 2006.

Rothwell started well and took the lead in their first attack after two minutes. Debutant Robbie Maddox played a superb ball over the Ilford back line into the path of Chris Difante whose pace took him clear and he made no mistake with his finish. Then, against the run of play, the hosts equalised two minutes before the break from what looked like an offside position.

Dave Reilly had a shot saved by Tom Smith on the edge of the six-yard box. The ball rebounded to the same player and passed to Danny Clarke who was stood one foot off the goalline for a tap-in. But Rothwell's protests went dismissed by referee Lines.

Within a minute the Bones were back in front. Straight from the restart the ball fell to Maddox who weaved his way into the area before slipping the ball square to Michael Boyle-Chong and he fired home into the far corner of the net.

The second half saw the hosts come out and up the pace to force several corners and winning free-kicks around the box. Richard Simpson and Julian Charles both went close for the hosts and Boyle-Chong headed a net-bound shot off the line on 73 minutes. So it came as no surprise when two minutes later Ilford were on level terms again. Clarke set up Reilly who made no mistake from ten yards.

Justin Jenkins and Difante then both had opportunities to regain the lead for Rothwell in the last ten minutes. But it was not to be.

Nonetheless, an away point rounds off a good January for the Bones.

Ilford: Ward, Cunningham (sub Styles 52), Taylor, Barry, Simpson, Wiltshire, Hammond, A Jones, Charles, Clarke, Reilly. Subs (not used): B Jones, Ojelab, Denni, Clayton.

Rothwell: Smith, Brown, Spencer, Rice, Flannigan, Towers, Maddox, Boyle-Chong, Difante, Jenkins, Brooks. Subs (not used): Ritchie-Smith, Wright, Tolton, Allen, Almond.

Goals: Difante (2 mins), Clarke (43 mins), Boyle-Chong (44 mins), Reilly (75 mins)

Bookings:: Simpson (foul), Styles, Towers, Jenkins (all dissent), Difante (encroachment)

Att: 56

Referee: Mr M Lines

. Star Man .

Robbie Maddox