Ceesay Saves Hereford’s Blushes Following Ilkeston Scare
Hereford FC narrowly avoided a major upset in their FA Cup clash against non-league side Ilkeston Town, as Yusifu Ceesay’s late strike salvaged a 2-2 draw, ensuring a replay and keeping their Cup dreams alive.
Playing at home at Edgar Street, Hereford went into the fixture as heavy favourites against lower-league Ilkeston. However, the Bulls found themselves in trouble as their opponents came close to pulling off a shock result. Ilkeston, from the Northern Premier League, dominated large periods of the game and took a surprise lead midway through the first half. A well-worked move saw forward Montel Gibson slot the ball past Hereford goalkeeper Curtis Pond, much to the delight of the travelling fans.
Hereford struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first half, with their forwards largely kept at bay by a determined Ilkeston defence. Despite being pegged back, the Bulls were given a lifeline just before halftime when a scrappy corner led to a penalty after an Ilkeston defender handled the ball in the box. Hereford’s Miles Storey stepped up to calmly convert the spot-kick, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.
The second half saw Ilkeston continue to apply pressure, and they were rewarded for their attacking intent when Gibson grabbed his second goal of the afternoon. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he rifled a shot into the top corner, leaving Pond with no chance and putting the underdogs back in front.
With the clock ticking down and a Cup exit looming, Hereford manager Paul Caddis made a series of attacking substitutions, bringing on Ceesay to add pace to the frontline. The gamble paid off when, in the dying moments of the match, Ceesay latched onto a loose ball in the box and calmly slotted home to make it 2-2, breaking Ilkeston hearts and sending the tie to a replay.
Hereford will now need to regroup and prepare for the return fixture, knowing they were given a real scare by their non-league opponents. For Ilkeston, the draw represents a huge achievement, but they’ll be disappointed to have let a famous FA Cup win slip from their grasp in the final moments.
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