Ilkeston Line up:-

Manager Charlie Bishop rung the changes after a run of three defeats with full backs Joe Atkinson and Ben Simms making way for Tony Brown and Jason Westwood. Rugby United were also looking to kick start their season after they had also suffered a run of three games without a win. 

It was the visitors who started the strongest but Ilkeston who should have opened after Aaron O'Connor's low cross just evaded Chris Thompson. Rugby however then started to dominate the game with their  quick and lively forwards giving the Ilkeston defence a hard time and on 14 minutes Andy Love made was called on to make an excellent reflex save. The Robins defence suffered a further set back when Danny Holyoak was injured and had to be replaced by Ben Simms. Rugby should have taken the lead on 38 minutes when they failed to take advantage of a Simms error with the resulting cross flashing low across the box without anyone being able to connect with the ball. Three minutes later the visitors got the breakthrough their play deserved when a corner fell to Pearson who forced the ball home from close range. On 44 minutes Rugby added to their lead when Nathan Thompson crossed for the unmarked Craig Dutton to head past the hapless Andy Love.

At half time manager Charlie Bishop surprised the home fans by replacing Andy Love with veteran keeper Paul Reece. Reece was soon called into action as Ilkeston's defensive play became more ragged. On 50 minutes he made a good save after Jason Westwood was caught in possession on the left. Seconds later Tony Brown hesitated when clearing the ball and Reece saved as Rugby attempted to lob the ex Grimsby keeper. Ilkeston replied with Chris Thompson providing a chance for Chris Freestone but he shot wide and then Aaron O'Connor had a long range shot which forced a good save out of Dean Thomas in the Rugby goal. Reece then had to come out to make good save at the feet of Justin Marsden and two minutes later he made another excellent save from Danny Hall.

Rugby finally added a third after 62 minutes when Steve Coates inexplicably played a back pass across his own goal straight to Dave Pearson who tried to round  Reece who got a hand on the ball only for it to fall for Pearson who scored from a tight angle.

Ilkeston were now a well beaten side and could have gone further when after yet another defensive mix up Rugby hit a post before Reece gathered the ball safely. Ilkeston's Chris Thompson forced a good save from Dean Thomas with a header from a Fabian Smith free kick but with four minutes remaining Nathan Thompson got behind the Ilkeston defence and crossed for the luckless Tony Brown to turn the ball into his own net.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Paul Reece - Kept Ilkeston in the game with some fine saves.

This was a very dispiriting performance from an Ilkeston side who a matter of weeks ago were playing like world beaters. Despite being without Marc Laws and Alex Callery Ilkeston should still have enough to make teams like Rugby work harder. Today we made Rugby look much better than they actually are. The defence was jittery to start with and then embarrasingly inept after they lost Danny Holyoak and could not cope with a lively Rugby attack. Only Charlie Bishop will be able to explain why he substituted Andy Love at half time. Love who had a nightmare on Tuesday had done little wrong in the first half and had gone someway to restoring his confidence. However he was replaced by veteran keeper Paul Reece who give him his due had an excellent game but when Chris Freestone hobbled off Ilkeston were left playing with ten men for the last twenty minutes or so. Against Yate next week with Marc Laws back Ilkeston will be looking for a much better performance.