Ilkeston Line up:-

1. Robinson

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

7. Hindley 8. Johnson 6. Walshe  11. Eshelby

10. Laws

 9. Freestone 

Subs

12. Holyoak for Johnson 57 mins

14. Evans for Laws 83 mins

Subs not used 15. Atkinson, 16. Thompson and 17. Smith F

Yellow Cards none

Red Cards none

Debuts none

Ilkeston Town looked to extend their impressive run of away form by welcoming back top scorer Chris Freestone to lead the attack. The Robins however suffered an early set back when Cirencester took the lead after only nine minutes. Shaun Wimble headed a deep corner back across the Ilkeston goal and Jody Bevan reacted first to force the ball home from close range.

Cirencester looked like they would add to their lead as they dominated the first 20 minutes. The Robins however gradually forced their way back into the game and on the half hour mark they equalised through Paul Eshelby (pictured left). Chris Freestone was sent through and he slipped the ball to Eshelby whose shot went in off the underside of the bar.

Ilkeston then had their best spell and started to get to grips with the blustery conditions. The game became evenly poised with Ryan Hindley having two half chances for Ilkeston. However the game was decided by an excellent goal from Adam Mayo. Cirencester substitute Scott Griffin was played in on the right but rather than shoot he squared the ball to Adam Mayo to slot home the winner for the home side after 83 minutes.

WhiteBallProject Man of the Match - Mark Lever (pictured below) - For the second game on the trot dominant at the back and just pipped Liam Walshe for the Sheriff's badge.

Ilkeston's long run of away games without finally came to an end against a good Cirencester side. The Robins had not lost away from home in any competition since a depressing defeat against Bedworth on January 3rd. Manager Phil Stant's standing with the Ilkeston fans was probably at its lowest at this point. They had seen the team chopped and changed without any apparent improvement. However results picked and Ilkeston now have the look of a very solid and potentially sucessful side. 

Phil Stant is gaining the same kind of support that Keith Alexander did when he halted the slump he inherited from Leighton James. The atmosphere at Ilkeston  on the football front has not felt so positive for a number of years.

On Tuesday Phil Stant and Ernie Oliver will have chance to gain immortality if they are able to pull back a 3-0 deficit from the first leg against Matlock Town in the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.