Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Turner

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

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

10. Jemson

Subs

12. Copnell for Lucas 42 mins

14. Eshelby for Walshe 82 mins 

15. Laws for Jemson 82 mins

With league leaders North Ferriby and Gresley Rovers being without a midweek league game Ilkeston Town knew that three points against lowly Rocester would would see the Robins return to the top of the table. Craig Swinscoe (pictured left) returned from the Big Apple to replace Steve Chettle at centre half as Manager Phil Stant stuck with a 4-5-1 formation.

The game played on a very heavy pitch followed a similar pattern to the game against Ossett on Saturday. There were very few chances in the first half and the one that did fell to Chris Adam after Paul Ede made a mistake. However the winger unfortunately shot wide. Again like Saturday the game changed with the introduction of substitute Stuart Copnell. He forced Clarke in the Rocester goal into a fine save just before half time and then the keeper made another block to foil Nigel Jemson.

After the break Ilkeston stepped up a gear and Stuart Copnell started to terrorise the Rocester defence. Clarke made another good save from Copnell but on 57 minutes he could do nothing when Copnell found space on the edge of the area and shot home via a post to give Ilkeston the lead.

Rocester’s defence were now beginning to tire and after 74 minutes they gifted Ryan Hindley with the second goal after Nigel Jemson’s shot had been blocked. They game was made completely safe on 86 minute when Stuart Copnell bagged his second goal of the game to send the Robins back to the top of the League

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Stuart Copnell (pictured below) – Finally turned in the match winning performance that he has threatened to in recent weeks.