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Ilkeston Line up:-
1. Robinson 2. Knowles 4. Swinscoe 5. Chettle 3. Davies 7. Hindley 6. Clifford 8. Smith 11. Adam 9. Jenkins 10. Jemson Subs 12. Johnson for Clifford 22 mins 14. Copnell for Smith 59 mins 15. Freestone for Jenkins 81 mins
Shirebrook included ex Robins keeper Mark Hales and he was called into action in the first minute. Chris Adam set up Justin Jenkins who from a few yards out hit his effort stright at Hales. Although Ilkeston looked the stronger side at this point Shirebrook were still in the game and they nearly took the lead themselves on 19 minutes when Rob Orton fired just wide. Both sides then lost influential players through injury when Shirebrook's Lee Eyre was carried off and Ilkeston's Mark Clifford hobbled off what turned out to be an hamstring injury.
Ilkeston broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when Ryan Hindley fine driven cross was converted at the far post by the head of Craig Swinscoe (pictured left) to give Ilkeston the lead. Ilkeston should have increased their lead before but Jenkins squandered two excellent chances. Firstly he missed from four yards out and then he had a one on one with the keeper but was thwarted by hales as he tried to take the ball round him.
After the break Ilkeston were pinned back in their own half and were blitzed by a rejuvenated Shirebrook Town. Craig Wilson came close after 50 mins then Rob Orton got clear but in trying to lob the keeper also put the ball over the bar. Then on 52 minutes Adie Carter struck a post and eleven minutes later Wilson hit the bar.
Shirebrook should have scored but the Robins weathered the storm and on 77 minutes Ryan Hindley picked up the ball ran at the defence and hit a powerful drive from 25 yards out. Hales got his hand to the ball but could not keep it out. At 2-0 Ilkeston looked a bit more comfortable and capably held on to their two goal advantage
WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Ryan Hindley (pictured below) – Made one scored one means it is another match winning performance from the flying winger.
Manager Phil Stant will be worried about how easy it was for Shirebrook to dominate the game just after the break but an even bigger headache will be the injuries that Mark Clifford and Paul Smith picked up. The pair have been outstanding in the centre of midfield for the Robins for the last month or so and to lose possibly both for the league against Ossett Albion is a big blow.
Clubs are often criticised for fielding weakened sides in cup competitions but Ilkeston fielded their strongest side against Shirebrook and have now lost the centre of their midfield. Shirebrook are obviousely a good side and had the reserves not had a game in the Derbyshire Divsional Cup making them cup tied, we could have rested a few regulars and maybe lost to them. The management would have been criticised but they would have a stronger team to face Osset Albion in what is probably a more important game than the Derbysshire Senior Cup. On the other hand we may still get a result against Ossett progress to the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup and give either Gresley Rovers or Alfreton a good hiding in the process.
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Shirebrook
Town certainly gave Ilkeston a fright has they battered the Robins goal
after the break. The visitors probably deserved some reward for this
spell of fine play but the Ilkeston defence defended resolutely and the irrepressible
Ryan Hindley calmed the nerves with a fine individual effort.