Ilkeston Town 2 Blyth Spartans 1 (Match Report)

Ilkeston Town: Lowson, Bonner, Murphy (c), Holmes, O'Loughlin, Waterfall, Burge, Green, Ricketts, Morgan-Smith (Watts 56), Zoomers (Ghaichem 60). Subs not used: Coleman, Godden, Caskey.

Blyth Spartans: Norton, Harrison, Brackstone, Todd, Foster, Pell, Hooks, Turnbull (Tait 41), Brayson, Graham, Dale. Subs not used: Williams, Alexander, Gillies, Bell.

Att: 360

Blyth travelled to Ilkeston without the injured duo of Darren Craddock (foot) and Chris McCabe (broken leg), but were able to draft the returning Ian Graham into the starting eleven at the expense of Josh Gillies and Michael Tait, who had recovered sufficiently from mumps to take up a place on the bench.

Ilkeston were the first team to attack in the opening minutes. Striker Amari Morgan-Smith, who scored a hattrick in the game at the Croft Park, pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area but his goal bound effort was well saved by Spartans 'keeper Jack Norton, with his legs.

Blyth slowly worked their way into the game and on 19 minutes a Paul Brayson free kick was well saved by Dan Lowson, the duel between the two continued minutes later with a Brayson shot from ten yards being well saved by Lowson

Against the run of play Morgan-Smith gave Ilkeston the lead on 33 minutes. A soft free kick on the edge of the box was well struck by Morgan-Smith but hit the wall, his follow up shot was blocked a Spartans defender, but his third bite of the cherry saw his shot beat Norton.

Ilkeston extended their lead on 37 minutes, a misplaced pass by the Spartans midfield was intercepted and quickly played out to Morgan-Smith, who held off Stephen Harrison, before slotting the ball past the onrushing Norton.

Half time (2-0)

Blyth started the second half on the foot front with enigmatic winger Robert Dale at the heart of their early good play. First a jinking run saw him beat four players and his slide rule pass to Simon Todd, but the midfielder's shot was well wide of the target. on 53 minutes a right wing corner was nodded on by Stephen Foster to Paul Brayson, whose cross to the back post found Dale who nodded the ball past Lowson.

Blyth continued to dominate the play and a ball over the top of the Ilkeston defence found Neal Hooks, signed a couple of weeks ago from Ilkeston Town, crossed to Paul Brayson, who readjusted his body position well and pulled a sensational save from Lowson.

Blyth cause was helped when a bad tackle from Tom Bonner saw him receive a second yellow card, meaning that Ilkeston had to play the last 15 minutes with only 10 men, but the best chance that the Spartans could fashion was a shot from Ian Graham in the dying minutes which was fired over the target.

Full Time (2-1)