Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Turner

2. Knowles 4. Lever 5. Swinscooe 3. Jervis

7. Hindley 6. Walshe 8. Johnson 11. Adam

9. Smith

10. Jemson

Subs

12. Lucas for Jervis 30mins

14. Thompson for Hindley 60mins

15. Freestone for Jemson 79mins

Subs not used 16. Jenkins and 17. Chettle

Yellow Cards  None

Red Cards None

Debutants None

Ilkeston Town looked to Mark Lever (pictured left) to bolster their defence after Steve Chettle declared himself not fit enough to make the starting line up. Manager Phil Stant started the game with Nigel Jemson as the lone striker supported by Paul Smith.

Although the Robins were firm favourites to win they were given a shock after five minutes when sloppy defending enabled Gareth Davies to give Alvechurch the lead. Only minutes earlier Craig Swinscoe had very nearly given Ilkeston the lead when he headed wide from a Ryan Hindley corner. However the Robins did not have to wait to open their account when on eight minutes Paul Smith capitalised on some poor Alvechurch to tap in an easy chance. 

Ilkeston then went looking to take the lead and pinned Alvechurch back into their own half. Chris Adam, Ryan Hindley and Craig Swinscoe all came close to scoring but Ilkeston had to be content with just a share of the spoils as they left the field for the half time cup of tea.

In the second half the Robins continued to pour forward and on 54 minutes they eventually broke through when the impressive Paul Smith headed home from a Ryan Hindley corner. Alvechurch were still unable to get back into the game as Ilkeston spurned numerous other chances before substitute Chris Thompson scored a third after 88 minutes to round off a very one sided affair and put Ilkeston into the next round of the FA Cup.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Paul Smith -  An excellent performance and two goals in an unfamiliar role behind the lone striker.

Ilkeston Town again won a game in which to some extent they underachieved. Alvechurch were probably the weakest opposition Ilkeston will face this season but the Robins could not convert their supremacy into an avalanche of goals. But a win is a win even if the team make hard work of it.

The star of the show was Paul Smith (pictured left) who was playing in the hole between the lone striker and the midfield. This is a role that was filled by Marc Laws last season and helped the Robins put together an excellent run of away results. Smith is proving to be an excellent signing for Ilkeston and with Liam Walshe is building an excellent midfield partnership.

On Tuesday Ilkeston entertain struggling Rocester and will be looking to put on the style in front of a big New Manor Ground crowd.

The FA Cup victory over Alvechurch gives Ilkeston a home tie against in form Gresley Rovers who defeated Studley 1-0.