Ilkeston Line up:-

Hindley opens the scoring	Ryan is one happy bunny!	Liam shows it's like watching Brazil

Ilkeston Town started the game without top scorer Chris Freestone who is coaching in America. Chris Thompson replaced up front as the Robins looked to extend their six game unbeaten run.

Things did not look too bright though after the visitors missed an excellent chance to take the lead in the opening few minutes. Aaron O'Connor found himself in an central defensive position and managed only to gift the ball to a Yate forward who managed to hit the bar from close range.

Ilkeston gradually got on top and were rewarded on 29 minutes when Jason Wood mistimed a clearance and could only succeed in handling the ball. The referee blew for a penalty before the ball managed to trickle into the net. Ryan Hindley (pictured left) strode up and confidently powered the spot kick to the left of Tony Court in the visitors goal. 

The Robins looked to build on their lead but were unable to create many clear cut chances against a rugged Yate rearguard.

After the break there was a scare for Ilkeston when on 48 minutes Gary Powell crossed for Mike Wyatt to score with an excellent header. Ilkeston's reply was immediate as they poured forward to regain the lead and just one minute later Mark Lever scored his first goal for the Robins when he headed home Ryan Hindley's corner. Mark Lever nearly added a second four minutes later when he again got on the end of another excellent Ryan Hindley corner but Tony Court made a fine save in the Yate goal. However he was out of luck on 58 minutes when Liam Walshe fed Darren Knowles and his well flighted cross was controlled by Andy Evans who turned and lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net. Ilkeston were now playing as a very confident unit and Yate's defence were showing signs of collapse. On 61 minutes Andy Evans got his second goal gain from a move started by the impressive Liam Walshe. He ran at the Yate backline and fed Ryan Hindley whose cross caught Andy Evans shoulder and looped over the despairing dive of Tony Court and into the top corner.

Ilkeston were now looking to add to their tally and Andy Evans, Ryan Hindley and Steve Johnson were all foiled by the heroics of Court in the visitors goal. However the best goal of the game was saved for last. on 77 minutes Ryan Hindley again ran at the Yate defence before feeding Darren Knowles and his pinpoint cross was volleyed home from eight yards by Liam Walshe to make it 5-1 to Ilkeston.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Liam Walshe – Had an excellent game ran the midfield had a hand in a number of the goals and scored the best himself. Just pipped Ryan Hindley, Steve Johnson and Darren Knowles who also had exceptional games.

This was probably Ilkeston's best home performance of the season. In the second half the rampant Robins tormented the Yate defence particularly down the right hand side where Ryan Hindley and Darren Knowles were a constant threat and they could have added another three or four goals but for the heroics of Tony Court. In the middle of the park Liam Walshe (pictured left) and Steve Johnson were in complete control and Walshe in particular covered an attacked the whole 81 minutes he was on the field and it is a real pity he cannot play in the Derbyshire Senior Cup final as he is cup tied. Andy Evans is also cup tied which is ironic as he is also starting to hit the target and getting some reward for all the hard work he puts in during a game.

Manager Phil Stant will have to juggle his resources on Tuesday night and it would be no surprise to see Mark Laws start in midfield with Aaron O'Connor up front with Chris Thompson. Then again the gaffer may roll back the years and put himself from the start and score a hat trick. Now that would cap a fine week!

Backs against the wall!	Thommo in action	Captions plaese?