Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Ilkeston Town

Gresley's two previous pre-season friendlies at the Moat Ground had been against League Two opposition so this one was more the sort of test they will face in their first venture into the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South.

Ilkeston, who won promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier last season, made the short journey hoping to build on their fine 3-2 win against Burton Albion but two second half goals from Gresley was their undoing.

Ilkeston can out of the blocks quickly with Joe Maquire having a goal bound shot deflected over the bar. On 3 minutes the visitors thought they'd opened the scoring but the upraised flag of the assistant referee cut short Gary Ricketts's celebrations.

Gresley slowly came back into the game with Richard Hanslow forcing a good save from Ilkeston keeper Ashley Timms followed by a good move between Dean Oliver and Hanslow which ended with Oliver flashing a shot just wide of the far post.

Oliver went close again a couple of minutes later when a free kick from Marc Goodfellow was headed back into the area at the far post but the striker's volley also went wide.

The second half opened similarly to the first with Ilkeston carving out the first chance which they failed to take. James Reid slung over a corner from the right which picked out Ricketts but despite being in a superb position at the far post somehow conspired to head the ball wide of the mark.

As with the first half it took a little time for the home side to settle but they took advantage of some slack Ilkeston defending to take the lead on 62 minutes. Substitute Mickey Lyons picked out Goodfellow on the left who hit his shot first time past Timms and into the net.

The Robins hit back almost immediately and it took a good block at his near post from goalkeeper Gary Hateley to deny Reid who had made a fine run down the left.

Ricketts then hit a shot from close in which was blocked by Michael Nottingham with the ball bouncing into Hateley's hands at his far post.

Gresley doubled their advantage on 68 minutes when after pressing forward a shot was deflected over to substitute Kyle Bryant who made no mistake hammering the ball past Timms and into the net.

In the final few minutes of the game Ilkeston had a couple of chances to have at least reduced the deficit. The first came as Matt Richards curled a superb free kick which was unlucky to clip the top of the junction of bar and post and then with just a minute remaining substitute Andrew Osgei-Siribour's persistence saw him get the better of Nottingham but slotted the ball wide of the far post.