Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round
The New Manor Ground, Ilkeston
Tuesday, 19th December 2023, 7.45pm
Robins Rocked
Ian Collins
After a last minute switch to Ilkeston from the Moat Ground after match referee had declared the Moat Ground unfit due to waterlogging, Rovers put in a fine showing against a higher ranked side.
Manager Marc Strzyzewski gave Harvey Ridgley his debut and welcomed back Martin Smyth and Kieran O'Connell who had missed the last game at Coventry Sphinx.
It was a battling defensive display that restricted Ilkeston to only a handful of goal scoring opportunities.
Ilkeston had the lion’s share of possession but the work rate of the Gresley players was excellent.
The winning goal came in the 66th minute a pass out of defence sent Haydn Brown racing down the right wing and his low cross was met by Nathan Banton who drove the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Ilkeston put the Gresley goal under a lot of pressure in the final ten minutes but a combination of brave defending and poor delivery ensured that Gresley came away with a win and a place in the quarter-final of the competition.
