Tom talks - after the Ilkeston

Tom Wade's Spartans side created enough chances to satisfy their manager but ultimately fell short in their 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Ilkeston on Tuesday evening.

"We dominated play in the first half," Wade said. "We created chances and they didn't really pressure us until late on. We worked hard in conditions which were horrendous to both sides but looked a yard slower than in the previous two good wins. That sharpness wasn't quite there.

"However Ilkeston are a full time side who are now second in the league so it was never going to be straightforward. Robbie Dale's penalty miss was shame but Robbie's been fantastic for us this season and there will be no blame attached to the miss. We were comfortable at nil - nil and everyone was doing ok but when we conceded towards the end we brought on two more attacking players [Craig Lynch and Neal Hooks] to get forward more but we couldn't get back on level terms.

"But it's not all doom and gloom. The way we've competed against the two top sides - Ilkeston and FC United of Manchester, show that we are there or there abouts. But we need to be in a position where we can change things up front; do something a bit different.

"We will now look forward to the game at Stourbridge this weekend and trying to get back to winning ways."