Ilkeston line up:- Bukowski Bennett O’Hanlon Bradley Willock Turner Thomas Bird Goodson Troke Wakefield Subs  Gibson Campbell Deeney Triallist Brown-Hill Triallist Triallist

Great to see Harry Worgan stepping in to help on the media front today and he is already having fun with the PA! Welcome back to the NMG Harry!

Todays visitors include Ex Robins Mason Lee and Biggles Richard Stainsby!

A flurry of chances for the Robins Bennett cross evades everybody and then Goodson has two chances to open the scoring 13’ 0-0

To be fair to Ilkeston the goal was against the run of play 22’ 0-2

GOAL Jared Bird with a free kick from the left which found its way into the corner of Stalnsby’s goal 28’ 1-1

Half Time
Ilkeston Town 2
Bird 28’
Goodson 39’
Melton Town 1
Wakeley 19’

Half time changes for the Robins Gibson, Campbell,  Brown-Hill  and two Triallists on for Bennett Thomas Bird Goodson Trokeand Wakefield.

Very nearly a fifth after excellent by Gibson sets up Campbell who just missed with a close range header 77’ 4-1

Campbell forces a good save from Stainsby in the dying minutes 88’ 4-1

Ilkeston Town enjoyed a welcome 4-1 victory over Melton Town in sweltering conditions at the NMG. After an early scare when Tom Wakeley put the visitors header against the run of play the Robins rallied and put four past the wilting Melton defence, marshalled by Ex-Robin Richard Stainsby, with strikes from Jared Bird, Zak Goodson and two from Montel Gibson.
 Ilkeston started the game strongly with Jared Bird getting the first strike at goal which shaved the top of the crossbar on six minutes. Zak Goodson then had two good chances in the space of a minute but shot wide before being caught off side. Melton started to come to terms with Ilkeston’s onslaught and got the first goal of the game when Tom Wakeley shot home unmarked from ten yards out after Melton had broken down the right with 19 minute on the clock.  
Undeterred Ilkeston were back on level terms nine minutes later when a wicked Jared Bird free kick from the right evaded everyone to find the back of the Melton net. On 39 minutes the Robins made their superiority pay when Dan Bradley played an exquisiteball over the defence to Zak Goodson who coolly bought it under control and slotted it past Stainsby to give Ilkeston the lead. 
Both teams then made a number of changes at half-time and it was one of these Montel Gibson who made a dramatic entrance to the action. On 49 minutes the lively Montel expertly bought down a cross at the right hand far post and powerfully slotted the ball home. Two minutes later he repeated the same trick on the left hand side to score a second excellent goal and give the Robins a three goal advantage. 
As a contest the game was now over and both sides made numerous changes bringing back players who had started the game. The players now saw out the game in the manner of most pre season games as a training exercise designed to sharpen match fitness.  
Ilkeston Town showed greater urgency than last week’s game against Carlton Town and wereaided by some flashes of magic from their flair players in Montel Gibson and Zak Goodson. Overall and as expected the players will be happy to get some minutes under their belt but Ilkeston did look much more together as a unit. There was a first glimpse of big signing Ben Turner who was solid at the back but other players like Ollie Brown-Hill and Jared Bird will be very happy with their performance. 
On Wednesday Ilkeston travel the short distance to local rivals Heanor Town to rekindle one of the oldest rivalries in local football folklore and will be looking for a few more players to return from injury and holiday to maintain their pre season preparation.
Attendance 261 

Ilkeston Town Line up:- Bukowski, Bennett, O’Hanlon, Bradley, Willock, Turner, Thomas, Bird, Goodson, Troke, Wakefield  Subs  Gibson, Campbell, Deeney, Triallist, Brown-Hill,Triallist, Triallist. 
Melton Town Line up:- Stainsby, Finn, Storey, Fry, Gilchrist, Nason, Anderson, Dunn, Wakely, Munton and Lee   Subs Gwamfi, Manship, Beswick and four Triallists.

We were on top dominating when they scored! It was probably bad marking but  we soon hit back and they were never in it after that and we could have seven or eight really! Montel was very lively when he came home and scored two cracking goals!