Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Turner

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

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

9. Jenkins  10. Jemson

Subs

12. Thompson for Jemson 64 mins

Subs not used 14. Johnson and 15. Freestone

Yellow Cards  None

Red Cards None

Debutants None

Manager Phil Stant brought Justin Jenkins back into the line up to face struggling Rocester as Ilkeston reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Steve Johnson was relegated to the bench and Richard Lucas came in for the injured David Jervis. 

Rocester came top the New Manor Ground on the back of an excellent win in the FA Cup away to Arnold Town however they were without their hat trick hero in that game ex Robin Richard Mitchell who was injured. After a lacklustre opening it looked as though the Romans were not going to be able to repeat their weekend heroics when on 23 minutes Chris Adam pounced on a poor back pass to give Ilkeston the lead.

Rocester responded  well to going behind and within a  minute they were level. Richard Hewitt reacted quickest after a shot had been deflected past Ross Turner but had rebounded back off the post. Rocester were buoyed by their goal and looked the more dangerous team and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 39 minutes when Keith Millward scored with a brilliant volley which looped over the despairing dive of Ross Turner. 

As half time approached it was noted that Rocester looked dangerous in the box and Ilkeston looked good until they got near the box.

However after half time Ilkeston looked more positive and Nigel Jemson (pictured left) forced an excellent save from Phil McGing with a ferocious drive. A minute later McGing missed a cross completely and was rescued by a defender who hooked the ball to safety. Ryan Hindley was starting to do what he does best which is delivering teasing crosses into the box and it was one of these that laid back to Liam Walshe by the impressive Nigel Jemson. However Walshe's shot was dfelected wide. Ilkeston finally got the break through when Darren Knowles free kick was nodded on for Craig Swinscoe to head home and equalise for the Robins.

Rocester were still creating chances and Darren Alexander nearly caught out Ross Turner with a long range lob after 28 minutes. Chris Adam then missed a guilt edged chance after Ryan Hindley fired in another excellent cross which fell directly to his feet but Adam was was only able to divert it past the post. Ilkeston had a final scare in the last five minutes when Mark Lever's poor back pass had to be scrambled away by Ross Turner.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Liam Walshe -  Another impressive midfield performance and just pipped Nigel Jemson whom had his best game yet in an Ilkeston shirt.

Ilkeston Town will look back at this game and wonder once again why they dropped two points against  team from the lower reaches of the league table. To be fair to Rocester they played much better than a team who were second bottom. However the Robins missed the chance to go top of the table against a hard working but limited opposition.

On the positive side Nigel Jemson had his best game for Ilkeston since signing in the summer and Liam Walshe (pictured left) and Paul Smith again did well in midfield. Justin Jenkins did little to silence his critics up front and the Robins looked worryingly fragile at the back.

In the end Ilkeston should be happy with a point because this was a game they could have easily lost. 

Manager Phil Stant will be hoping that on Saturday the Robins  get their act together against yet  another team in Rossendale United who are struggling in the league.