Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Turner

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

7. Hindley 6. Lucas 9. Walshe  8. Smith  11. Adam

10. Jemson 

Subs

14. Jenkins for Hindley 53 mins

12. Thompson for Adam 58 mins

Sub not used 15. Johnson 16. Laws 17. Freestone

Jemson and Walshe foiled	Walshe comes close	Lever leans for goal

Ilkeston Town took a rest from their top of the table exploits in the league to entertain local rivals Gresley Rovers in the FA Cup. Manager Phil Stant had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side and the Moatmen included ex Robin Aaron O'Connor (pictured left) in their ranks and it was O'Connor who had the first shot on target after18 minutes. However both teams were finding it difficult to create clear cut chances but it was Ilkeston who had the best of those on offer. On 25 minutes Richard Lucas shot wide after getting into a good position and nine minutes later Ryan Hindley got to the bye line and pulled the ball back but there was no one able to force the ball home. Ilkeston finished the half looking the stronger side but they had a reminder of what Gresley could do when Jamie Barrett came close after a defensive mix up.

So far this season the Robins have done well in the last 45 minutes of most games however whatever Gary Norton said to his Gresley players it motivated his team to take the game by the scruff of the neck right from the kick off. On 47n minutes David Jervis had to clear his lines as Gresley piled on the pressure. Eventually they got a breakthrough when Aaron O'Connor broke in from the right and Mark Lever was adjudged to have fouled the ex Robin. Emeka Ejiofor calmly sent Ross Turner the wrong way with the spot kick to give the Moatmen the lead. Phil Stant responded by replacing the ailing Ryan Hindley with Justin Jenkins and within minutes Jenkins fed Richard Lucas who put in a dangerous cross which was held by Dale Belford. Chris Thompson was introduced to the fray and he missed an excellent chance to get Ilkeston back into the game after a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Gresley weathered the brief Ilkeston storm and broke away to score their second goal. the dangerous Liam Hebbard crossed for the completely unmarked Ashley Dodds to score with a glancing header. Ashley Dodds almost scored a second when his shot cannoned off the foot of the post. Ilkeston's day got worse after Liam Walshe was sent off after getting his second yellow card after 77 minutes.

Gresley took control of the game and played out the remaining minutes with possession football. Liam Hebbard then scored the third after 88 minutes when he was again left completely unmarked by a now devastated Ilkeston defence.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Paul Smith (pictured left) - One of the few Ilkeston players who did themselves justice in what was a pretty desperate performance.

When you are bought down to earth after reaching the dizzy heights the landing can be quite painful but few Ilkeston fans could have expected the Robins to be so easily dispatched by an impressive Gresley Rovers side.

Ilkeston in fact just pipped Gresley in the first half but completely disintegrated in the second as Gresley inspired by Laim Hebbard took the Robins apart. Ilkeston looked a very dispirited side as they struggled to put their game together in the second half but after Ryan Hindley had to be replaced there was little attacking threat and defensively Ilkeston became more ragged as the game wore on.

Many players will be looking at their own performances and analysing what went wrong. Phil Stant will be hoping that the team bounce back quickly against Willenhall who like Ilkeston have had a good start to his season. It is true that Ilkeston can now concentrate on the league but it is hooped that the nature of today's defeat has not knocked the teams confidence too much.

Jemson surrounded	Adam down the wing	Lucas shoots just wide