SPL Central
Ilkeston Town 2 (Eratt-Thompson 37, Gibson 83)
Barwell 0
Two superb goals were enough to win us all three points against Barwell on Saturday.
In a largely dominant performance, stunning strikes by Dec Eratt-Thompson and Montel Gibson were the highlights but we were the better side throughout and fully deserved the win.
Gibson sliced a shot wide in the opening minute as we began well, Lamine Sherif then seeing a shot from distance deflected wide.
Gibson then had two more chances to open the scoring, both headed wide in good positions having been found by Joe Wilson and Remaye Campbell respectively.
Dempsey Arlott-John then let fly from just inside the penalty area with a powerful effort which keeper Andy Wycherley superbly tipped over the bar.
Our opener finally came on 37 minutes, when after more pressure from the Robins attack, the ball was laid back to Eratt-Thompson who left fly with a stunning strike from 25 yards out and the ball arrowed into the top corner of the net.
Barwell nearly levelled right on half-time, George Ward heading wide when found by a free-kick from deep, otherwise it had been a hugely dominant first-half from the Robins.
A slower start to the second-half from us saw Barwell liven up a little, Javahn Davidson-Miller letting fly from distance on 57 minutes but his shot rebounding back off the crossbar.
Jack Deakin put a good chance wide for Barwell on 76 minutes after clear openings had dried up for a while, but our second goal arrived on 83 minutes and it was another stunner.
Out of nowhere, Gibson received the ball 30 yards out before striding forward and unleashing a clean strike which beat Wycherley all ends up and nestled in the net.
And that would be that, Barwell putting some late pressure on and Beck-Ray Onoru putting a good chance over the top in stoppage time, but the clean sheet was preserved and the points were safe.
Ilkeston: Battersby, Wilson, Wilder, Eratt-Thompson, Bradley, Fenton, Campbell, Sherif, O’Grady, Gibson (Fyfe 84), Arlott-John
Not used: Thomas, Delap, Deeney, Bello
Barwell: Wycherley, Edwards (Brown-Hill 20), Master, Lee (Nassunculo 64), Rowley, Ward, Enoru, Bushaj, Davidson-Miller, Hickey, Deakin
Not used: Lawson, Adegbehingbe, Painter
Att: 522
By Mark Duffy