SPL Premier Central

Ilkeston Town 3 (Wilder 53, Lita 55, Wilson 61)

Bedford Town 2 (Butterworth 1, Tomlinson 13)

Report by Mark Duffy

Three goals in eight second-half minutes saw us turn around a half-time deficit and secure all three points against Bedford Town.

With a side featuring three young debutants and with some key players missing, the task looked a tough one from the start and that was before the visitors took an early two-goal lead.

But a stirring second-half effort saw us take control and ultimately hold on to take three welcome points.

Bedford got off to the perfect start, as just 48 seconds in, Joe Butterworth placed a fine effort into the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area after we had lost possession in midfield.

After Tom Hilton and Remaye Campbell both went close to an equaliser, with Hilton’s shot saved and Campbell heading over the top from a corner, the Robins gifted Bedford a second when Joe Wilson’s back pass was misplaced straight to Connor Tomlinson who had time to pick his spot and finish low into the net on 13 minutes.

We then had numerous chances to get back in the game by half-time, the best perhaps falling to Leroy Lita whose free header 12 yards out went wide of the target from Wilson’s centre.

We eventually got ourselves back in the game on 53 minutes as Wilson’s fine cross found the other full-back, Henri Wilder, on the edge of the six yard box and he stooped to head in his first Robins goal (see photo)

Two minutes later we were level, as Lita received the ball in the penalty area and at a fairly tight angle was able to control on his chest and then volley superbly across goal and into the corner of the net.

Wilson had worked tirelessly to atone for his early error and having assisted one goal, he scored the third, as he burst into the penalty area and lashed his right-foot half volley into the far corner of the net, from a similar position to where Lita had succeeded moments earlier.

Bedford continued to be a threat and a number of free-kicks and set pieces were well dealt with by the Robins defence, with debutant goalkeeper Callum Hiddlestone twice having to produce fine saves to deny the Eagles an equaliser.

Lita and Campbell both saw good chances to extend the lead go begging late on, while Bedford’s Rene Howe had a goal disallowed for offside, we would hold on to take the points for a much-needed win.

Ilkeston: Hiddlestone, Wilson, Wilder, Thomas (Eratt-Thompson 56), Delap, Fenton, Campbell, Dixon, Lita, Hilton, Woakes

Not used: Patterson, Hallam, O’Malley, Woodward

Bedford: Palmer, Keeble (Theobalds 46), Warburton, Richardson, Sanders, Alban-Jones, Tomlinson, Butterworth, Howe, Gyamfi, Phelan

Not used: Halliday, Thorne, Jozwiak, Sheriff

Att: 715

Ref: Callum Fisk