Ilkeston Line up:-

Ilkeston Town welcomed back Ross Turner who replaced Gavin Saxby after recovering from a groin injury and Mark Lever who came in for the suspended Danny Holyoak. Joe Atkinson replaced the injured David Jervis and Aaron O'Connor was included at the expense of Paul Eshelby who was relegated to the bench. The Robins final change saw the debut of 36 year old veteran Steve Johnson who came in for the injured Wayne Bullimore.

The much changed outfit seemed to be heading for a very familiar scoreline when a strong Bromsgrove Rovers side took the lead on 14 minutes through Mark Bellingham. Ilkeston tried hard but were unable to make much imppresson on a resolute visitors defence. The Robins cause looked completely lost on 42 minutes when Steve Pope scored with an excellent header from a Kevin Bauer free-kick.

However two minutes later Andy Evans  headed a long ball into the box Craig Swinscoe flicked the ball on and Chris Freestone to prod the ball home from six yards out.

Ilkeston came out for the second half spurred on by the goal and took the game to Bromsgrove for the first time. Ten minutes in to the half they got their reward when Aaron O'Connor surged through the visitors defence and played an excellent ball to Andy Evans who scored his first goal for the club with a low drive.

The Robins looked for a winner but began to tire as the game wore on and Bromsgrove started to look more dangerous. Mark Benbow shot over from eight yards out and Mark Bellingham was put clear through but elected to take the ball round rather than chip Ross Turner and ended shooting from an angle that proved too tight. 

In the end Ilkeston held out for what was a point won rather then two points lost.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Darren Knowles - (pictured above left) - Almost faultless at the back and just pipped Craig Swinscoe.

The run without a league win at home continues but this was a much more promising performance. The defnce looked much stronger and Craig Swinscoe again looked impressive at the heart of the defence and Darren Knowles is proving to be an excellent acquisition. In the middle debutant Steve Johnson had a good game and up front Chris Freestone fought hard and it was pleasing to see Andy Evans (pictured left) make the first goal and score the equaliser. 

Manager Phil Stant will be pleased by the performances of players who have to come in because of the club's injury crisis and no doubt it will have given him much food for thought when he has a full strength squad to choose from.