ILKESTON Town secured three much-needed points with a narrow win at home to Droylsden on Saturday.

Amari Morgan-Smith netted the winner on 71 minutes in a game either side could have won but where both were guilty of several missed chances.

The visitors had the better of the first-half and should have taken the lead on 20 minutes. Ilkeston's Charlie O'Loughlin slipped and gifted the ball to Paul Brown who ran through on goal but slid his shot wide of the post.

Ilkeston had offered little until the 22nd minute when Dan Holmes' corner was headed powerfully towards goal by defender Luke Waterfall but Droylsden keeper Craig Mawson, who was in fine form all afternoon, did well to tip over the bar.

Waterfall went close again on 36 minutes when another effort from a corner was blocked on the goal-line before being cleared, and just before half-time Droylsden's Shaun Whalley fired straight at keeper Dan Lowson from the edge of the area.

The second-half was a much more entertaining affair and the hosts twice went close early on, both times through Gary Ricketts who saw Mawson block his efforts superbly.

Whalley was impressive on Droylsden's left and cut inside on 56 minutes only to see his fine effort just clear the crossbar.

Steve Beck saw a goal ruled out for offside before Brown had another fine opportunity to put the visitors in front on 63 minutes. Lowson slipped when taking control of a back pass and Brown nipped in to take the ball round the prone Ilkeston stopper but from a narrow angle could only fire wide of the open goal.

That was to cost Droylsden dear as the winner came on 71 minutes. Matt Godden, on loan from Scunthorpe United, cut inside from the left and eventually got a shot in that Mawson could only parry, and on the rebound Morgan-Smith fired in a shot which saw the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and drop just over the line.

Ilkeston had several good chances to seal the win before the end, Godden in particular unlucky as he saw three fine efforts all well saved by Mawson, but Ilkeston were to hang on and claim the points.

Ilkeston: Lowson, Bonner, White, Holmes, Waterfall, O'Loughlin, Coleman, Dempsey, Ricketts, Morgan-Smith (Burge 78), Godden. Subs not used: Green, Hooks, Watts, Coombes.
Ref: M Connell
Attendance: 366