The mind games began as the Robins' team coach crunched over the gravel outside the Impact Arena.

Home manager Nicky Law was bemoaning injuries and suspensions while his opposite number had also been talking about walking wounded.

David Holdsworth put his squad through an energetic workout in front of the main stand before announcing a side that nobody had anticipated.

The subs' bench would be holding up leading scorer Amari Morgan-Smith as well as midfield terriers Steven Istead and Ben Pringle, who have epitomised the team's style.

It looked like a 4-4-2 with Anthony Howell partnering the effective and energetic Jon Douglas at the pointy end. That was another illusion as Douglas started all alone, with Sam Duncum playing around him and Howell driving up from the left.

Law opened with Brian Cusworth leading the charge, supported by Danny Davidson and Leo Fortune-West. They quickly won a free-kick 45 yards out but Ben Muirhead's effort went out of play.

Howell had begun to cause problems up the left, where Holdsworth told him to "dip his gravy." This seemed no time to exchange recipes but the forward knew what he meant and kept surging forward. A couple of runs were ended by fouls.

In the 14th minute, keeper Chris Adamson unfurled a huge goal kick and Douglas won the ball, flicking it through to Duncum, whose header went dangerously close.

Midfielder Rob Scott was already forming an effective partnership with Anthony Church and one of his free kicks created another chance.

It was reached by Duncum, whose header was deflected behind for a corner. It was evidence of Holdsworth's planning that the diminutive player was winning the ball in the air by nipping around taller men.

But Kris Bowler was starting to have an effect on midfield for Alfreton and linked cleverly with Davidson. The cross was headed wide by Cusworth in the 28th minute.

Soon Cusworth was having a shot blocked but the referee's whistle had already gone. Alfreton were having a good spell with Davidson holding off a defender and feeding Fortune-West, whose cross went over the top.

Ilkeston's Tom Jones was becoming prominent - especially his forehead - as he was called on to repeatedly nod away high balls into the penalty area. At his side, Kieran Murphy was vigilant.

In the 32nd minute, Davidson unleashed a fine shot after Alfreton progressed along the left. Adamson made a fine save.

The Reds were having slightly the better of the game but captain Lee Thompson stopped the dangerous Muirhead with a tackle which needed perfect timing.

In the 40th minute, Alfreton seemed likely to go in front when Fortune-West forced Adamson to make a fine save. The ball ran loose and Bowler's effort shook the bar and bounced away.

The pressure was eased when Ilkeston won a free-kick. Thompson angled this across the Alfreton penalty area, looking for the heads of Douglas or Howell. Tony Butler got there first.

Scott's free-kick was aimed for Douglas and it took two challengers to prevent him getting a shot on goal before the referee ordered a half-time break.

Muirhead soon showed himself to be a danger, forcing Adamson into a routine save and then a more difficult one.

Paul Hurst engineered a breakaway which sent Duncum scampering through with the energetic Douglas in close support. The home defence managed to snuff them out before Duncum was busy at the other end.

The winger, who was enjoying a fine game, was judged to have fouled Davidson and the free-kick led to a corner. Another free-kick was flighted in by Muirhead but Bowler's shot went over the bar.

Morgan-Smith then joined the fray, replacing midfielder Curtis Shaw as Holdsworth decided to push for a win. The switch nearly bore fruit when Morgan-Smith won possession of Thompson's free kick.

The ball was eased into the path of Duncum and his 62nd minute shot was well saved by keeper Tom Evans. Hurst maintained the pressure by finding Douglas, whose incessant running was a feature of Ilkeston's endeavours.

The striker managed to locate Morgan-Smith, who was pulled up for a handball. In 67 minutes, Douglas again won the ball in the crowded penalty area. This time defender Jones was the beneficiary but his shot went over the top.

The Robins were in full flight and Howell was gulping gravy by the gallon. In the 68th minute, he went on a glorious run but Morgan-Smith's gentle shot was past a post.

Muirhead was still full of ideas and cut in from the left ten minutes later. Adamson took the ball well and Ilkeston were going forward again.
Murphy's brilliant crossfield pass found Douglas who faced two defenders but still managed to win a throw-in near the corner flag.

This was a good position for Scott, a man who clearly eats loads of spinach, probably soaked in gravy.

His mighty throw was helped on by Douglas but went across goal with nobody able to snatch a bit of cup glory. At this point, a low-flying plane went overhead, doubtless enjoying the view of a town jammed between Golden Valley and Ambergate.

"Some folk will go to any lengths to avoid paying," said a fan, who was certainly getting his money's worth from this little issue of local pride.

In 81 minutes, the game was enveloped in one of those incidents beloved of pundits who have all the technology at their fingertips and use it to tease referees.

From Duncum's cross, Douglas hit the bar with a header and Morgan-Smith's shot seemed to have forced the ball over the line. The net rippled and Ilkeston fans erupted with joy but the ball was exiting stage left.

Where was inspector Clouseau when you wanted him? He was trying on the deerstalker owned by Sherlock Holmes, who pointed out that the net was full of Alfreton defenders who might have shaken it in their enthusiasm to clear the ball.

Law later sportingly admitted that from his angle - a long way from goal - he feared his side had gone behind. But he pointed out that neither the referee nor the linesman had furrowed their brows.

That was the crucial fact but Ilkeston fans felt aggrieved. When Martin McIntosh's free-kick sailed over the Ilkeston bar soon after, one muttered: "That's justice on them."

Keeper Adamson dived to his right to grasp a low shot by sub Paul Clayton. At the other end, Morgan-Smith cut inside but Evans took the shot well.

Soon Alfreton fans were spitting fire when Davidson ran through until Church decided he had run far enough and brought him down. "Off, off, off," chanted the home supporters. "On, on, on," decided the referee who waggled a yellow card.

Clayton drove in a low free kick, emphasising his value to Alfreton's late attempt to avoid a trip to Ilkeston on Tuesday night. Adamson took it well and Duncum was racing up the left, only for his cross to miss Douglas and Morgan-Smith.

The referee ordered three minutes of added time and Ilkeston had defensive work to do before they embarked on one last breakaway attack. Thompson knocked the ball up for Douglas, who was still running with his 3pm enthusiasm. McIntosh managed to clear and left the pitch embracing Holdsworth.

Ilkeston Town
1 - Chris Adamson
2 - Lee Thompson (c)
3 - Paul Hurst
4 - Rob Scott
5 - Tom Jones
6 - Kieran Murphy
7 - Curtis Shaw (Amari Morgan-Smith 56)
8 - Anthony Church
9 - Anthony Howell (Steven Istead 89)
10 - Jon Douglas
11 - Sam Duncum
Subs not used: Dean Gordon, Ben Pringle, Callum Green, Dan Haystead (GK)
Attendance: 820
Referee: A Madley (Ossett)